74 Hardy Plants for Cottage Gardens 
range from scarlet and orange scarlet into crimson and bluish 
tones of magenta and solferino. The result is fatal if these are 
mixed indiscriminately together; but, using the pure red as a 
central note, a border may gradually merge either. into the 
yellow-reds or the purplish-reds, and if plenty of green is used 
to separate the plants, the effect is gorgeous. A proper ad- 
mixture of light airy plants such as Gypsophila paniculata, 
Asperula hexaphylla, Gaura Lindheimeri, meadow rue, gar- 
den heliotrope, Stevia serrata, Galium boreale, wild carrot and 
caraway will add loveliness to brilliant reds. 
A successful red bed, or one of any given color, is not the 
product of a season. One must begin by assembling the 
plants, and arrange them theoretically; but each year will 
witness removals and new combinations. It may be, well to 
make a note, while plants are still in bloom, of any change.to 
be made in the autumn; for, in the reconstructing days, de- 
tails are apt to be overlooked and plans forgotten. Most 
perennials are benefited by occasional lifting, and the larger 
the plant, the more likely it is to require division after a few 
years. Of course shrubs are exceptions to this rule. If a 
number of plants of mixed unknown colors, say of phlox, are 
planted at once, they may be marked when they bloom by the 
color code I have indicated for marking seeds, and in the au- 
tumn can be redistributed according to their precise color. 
A most careful study should be made of the character of 
plants, their relative size, height, and time of blooming; also 
the duration of bloom. Tall plants should be placed in the 
rear, and low ones toward the front of beds or borders; or the 
tall ones may be planted in the center of large areas. In re- 
moving a plant think twice before digging it up, and thrice be- 
fore resetting it. Have the new location already prepared, 
with a bucket of water at hand, and soil adapted to the needs 
of the new occupant dug over and mellowed considerably 
