136 YARD AND GARDEN 



ennial roots and a top tliat dies to the ground 

 in the fall, such, for instance, as the peony, the 

 columbine, the larkspur and the various forms 

 of hardy ferns. Nurserymen, however, include 

 in the list a number of closely allied species 

 which possess evergreen foliage, such as the 

 statice and the yucca and the evergreen creep- 

 ing phlox and a number of Alpine plants. 



America^ nurserymen now offer nearly three 

 thousand species and varieties. Many of these, 

 of course, are hardier than others and some 

 require more . generous treatment than others; 

 and all vary in height and size, color of flower 

 and period of bloom. It is only necessary to 

 bear in mind that with such a list from which 

 to select it is possible to have flowers in bloom 

 from frost to frost. Indeed, with a judicious 

 planting of spring-flowering bulbs and a liberal 

 planting of herbaceous perennials not even the 

 smallest city yard need be bloomless for more 

 than four months in the year. 



The perennials may be divided into three 

 groups. The first will include those plants 

 which are to be adapted for the garden of neat 

 habit and form, requiring favorable conditions 

 which a state of cultivation provides and which, 

 with only a little more than ordinary attention, 



