THE OLD-FASHIONED GARDEN 149 



in long rows used as a background for lower growing 

 plants sucli as the lychnis and feverfew. A bed that 

 always affords much satisfaction at its time of bloom 

 has a close row of aquilegias in the front row which 

 bloom first; back of these, coming into bloom at the 

 same time is a row of scarlet lychnis and white fever- 

 few, alternated, and backed by the tall garden spiraea; 

 the effect is delightful and after these have faded the 

 last and rear rows of physostegia finish up the color 

 symphony of that bed for the year. 



The ulmaria is a perennial plant of the spiraea 

 family that is beautiful when grown in long rows. 

 This combines well with scarlet and may be edged or 

 bordered with any good scarlet flower blooming at the 

 same season. The ulmaria, to be at its best, should be 

 lifted and divided every third year. Unless this is 

 done the plant makes so dense and woody a root 

 growth that no moisture can penetrate it and only 

 scant and inferior bloom is produced, but if divided 

 and the plants set eighteen inches apart in good soil 

 and freely supplied with water during the growing 

 and blooming season, it will be one of the marked 

 features of the garden. 



German iris is another plant requiring frequent di- 

 vision and resetting in good soil, though it need not 

 be reset more than once in three years, unless it shows 

 signs of failing in bloom. Each clump taken up 

 should have all the old woody root discarded, only the 



