THE HARDY FLOWER BORDER 59 



in the case of the September border, and early in 

 September in the case of the one for October, we go 

 round and regulate the plants, settling them among 

 the sticks in their definite positions. When this is 

 done every atom of projecting spray is cut away with 

 the sScateur. 



I hold that nothing u nsightly sho uld be seen in the 

 garden . The shed for sticks and stakes is a lean-to at 

 one end of the bam, showing to the garden. The roof 

 had to be made at a very low pitch, and there was no 

 roofing material suitable but galvanised iron. But a 

 depth of four inches of peaty earth was put over the 

 iron, and now it is a garden of Stonecrops and other 

 plants that flourish in shallow soil in a hot exposure. 



To prevent undue disappointment, those who wish 

 for beautifiol flower borders and whose enthusiasm is 

 greater than their knowledge, should be reminded that 

 if a border is to be planted for pictorial effect, it is ' 

 impossible to maintain that effect and to have the 

 space well filled for any period longer than three 

 months, and that even for such a time there will h a.ve 

 to b e contrivances s uch as have been described. 



It should also be borne in mind that a good hardy 

 flo wer border cannot be made all at once. M any of 

 the most indispensable perenniEds take two, three or 

 even more years to come to their strength and beauty. 

 The best way is to plant the border by a definite plan, 

 allowing due space for the development of each plant. 

 Then, for the first year or two, a greater number of 

 half-hardy annuals and biennials than will eventually 

 be needed should be used to fill the spaces that have 



