HARDY BORDER FLOWERS 121 
every three or four years. The stronger growing sorts will thrive 
in the poorest soil and in out of the way corners, and are use- 
ful for filling unsightly nooks and waste ground. Not that this is 
the proper way to grow Michaelmas Duisies, or to accord them the 
treatment they deserve. Naturally they give only of their best on 
well tilled yround. Still it is well to know of those plants which 
will adapt themselves to indifferent conditions, and the vigorous 
ans of Michaelmas Daisy are certainly to be reckoned among 
them. 
Phlox.—Most gardens contain a few Phloxes, but how rarely 
are they seen at their best! Although such a common plant, the 
Phlox is somewhat arbitrary in its likes and dislikes. It succeeds 
only when given a rich and well dug soil and a fairly sunny 
position, and it must be left alone for several years. Nothing is so 
fatal to the well-being of the Phlox as continual disturbance ; in 
fact, this may be said of many hardy border flowers. How often 
have we all envied the splendid clumps of this or of that plant in 
country cottage gardens! If only we would leave our plants alone, 
instead of digging them up every year or two to transplant into 
fresh positions, we might have equally fine specimens. The old 
fashioned sorts of Phlox are altogether eclipsed by the many 
beautiful varieties raised within the past few years. Phloxes are 
commonly increased by dividing the old roots and by cuttings. 
Varieties : Canadensis Laphami, ‘clear blue ; ; King of Purples, rosy 
purple ; Mrs. Dalrymple, pale rose ; Snowdon, white; Etna, 
verinilion ; Mrs. E. H. Jenkins, white ; ” Coquelicot? orange ‘scarlet ; 
Eugene Danzanvilliers, rosy lilac with’ white eye, very fine. 
Pyrethrum.—The Pyrethrum comes into bloom in May, a 
month in which, curiously enough, there is no great variety of hey 
border -plants in flower. Then Pyrethrums are so very useful for 
cutting that every little garden should possess a few plants. They 
seem to thrive in any well dug soil that is not too heavy and clayey. 
In the latter kind of soil they are liable to damp off during 
winter. As much as any plant they appreciate a mulching of 
manure in spring ; this may be forked beneath the surface soil in the 
course of a few weeks. Pyrethrums are increased by division in 
spring. Varieties: Single—Agnes Mary Kelway, rose; Coccinea, 
deep red; Carmen Sylva, pale blush. Double— Lord Rosebery, 
scarlet ; Virgo, yellow ; White Aster, white. 
Sweet William.—Considered by most people who love their 
gardens to be absolutely indispensable border flowers. Sweet 
Williams are more valuable than ever now, for some charming new 
sorts have been raised recently. Perhaps the finest of all is 
Sutton’s Pink Beauty, a very beautiful flower of rich salmon pink 
colouring, quite a distinct shade. Sweet Williams are biennials, 
that is to say, seed is sown one year to produce plants that will 
bloom the next, and after flowering the plants are thrown away. 
Thus to have Sweet Williams every year it is necessary either to 
