CHAPTER VIII 



PLANTS FOR VARIOUS SITUATIONS 



Ornamental leaved plants are by no means con- 

 fined to the cannas, caladiums and coleus so much in 

 evidence in our summer lawns and gardens. There 

 are many hardy perennials of most effective foliage 

 that, once planted, increase in decorative value from 

 year to year, and make an appreciable difference in 

 the care and expense of the grounds. 



For effective permanent planting there is nothing 

 more desirable on the lawn than a large round bed of 

 ornamental grasses. These, once established, require 

 little care beyond an annual removing of the dead 

 canes in spring, quickly accomplished by fire, which 

 does less damage to the plant than to cut them back, 

 leaving the stubs of the old canes to delay the growth 

 of the new foliage. A mellow soil composed of wood 

 or marsh earth, and good loam enricbed with old 

 manure, if applied in spring, or a heavy mulch of 

 manure in the fall, which may be spaded in in spring, 

 is about all they require, but water should be given 



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