58 Hardy Plants for Cottage Gardens 
size. While this bed requires daily attention, the plants are 
cared for collectively with much less trouble than if, as little 
seedlings, they were reset in permanent positions all over the 
garden. . 
With this sheltered nursery bed I have not only carried 
young seedlings successfully through the winter, protected 
with only a light mulch of leaves, but some varieties, planted . 
as seeds in May, have developed into strong blooming plants 
within three months, such as English daisy (Bellis perennis) 
and Callirrhoé. The deep well-drained soil is kept moist by the 
shadow of the stone wall facing the cutting in the bank; and, 
to give further shade, I have planted above it tall perennials 
that do not seed readily, such as azure and deep blue lark- 
spur, white perennial phlox, pink hollyhocks. For spring 
bloom I have added the early pink lychnis (Lychnis dioica 
rosea), blue and white columbine, and white foxglove for 
June; but these must be watched and every seed vessel re- 
moved, as they sow their seeds far and wide. 
T have also found it an advantage to construct an awning of 
cheese-cloth over my perennial seed-bed, high enough to ad- 
mit air and a little sun, yet a protection from the direct noon- 
day rays. Some advise that this be replaced later with an 
open lattice-covering made from laths, which would admit 
more sun. I have not found it advisable because of our long 
extreme droughts. With my utmost endeavor I can scarcely 
keep the bed sufficiently moist when a drought continues six 
to ten weeks, so that cheese-cloth is none too much shelter 
from the burning heat. Under this light canopy I have had 
self-sown foxgloves make a tuft of leaves twelve inches across 
the first season. 
My great trouble is to preserve virgin soil anywhere. No 
matter at what season I construct a bed, nor from what source 
I collect my earth, lo! before the bed has cooled from the heat 
