340 



THE GARDENER'S ASSISTANT. 



E. — Evergreen shrubs for toton paries, gardens, and 

 squares. 



t Aralia Sieboldi. 

 Arbutus Unedo. 

 Arundinaria japonica. 



* Aucuba japonica. 



* Azara microphylla. 

 Berberis Aquifolium. 



„ buxifolia. 

 ,, Darwini. 

 ,, stenophylla. 



* Buxus balearica. 



sempervirens and vars. 

 Cerasus lusitanica. 

 ■}■ Cistus laurifolius. 

 Cotoneaster buxifolia. 

 ,, microphylla. 



„ thymifolia. 



Crataegus Pyracantha. 



* Daphne Laureola. 

 Diplopappus chrysophyllus. 

 El.eagnus glaber. 



pungenp. 

 t Escallonia macrantha. 

 Euonymus japouicus. 



,, radicansvariegatus 

 Gaultheria Shallon. 



t Griselinia littoralis. 

 Hedera arborescens in var. 

 Ilex Aquifolium, all vars. 

 ,, crenata. 

 t Laurus nobilis. 

 Ligustrum japonicum. 

 ovalifolium. 

 ,, var. elegantissimum. 

 Olearia Haasti. 



* Osmanthus ilicifolius. 

 Pernettya mucronata. 



* Phillyrea latifolia. 



* „ media. 



* „ Vilmoriniana. 



* Rhamnus Alaternus. 

 Rhododendron catawbiense . 



and vars. 

 ,, ponticum. 



* Ruscus aculeatus. 



* Skimmia japonica. 



* Ulex europseus. 

 Veronica salicifolia. 



t ,, Traversi. 



* Yucca gloriosa. 



* „ recurvifolia. 



Those marked * may be planted in smoky districts. 



Those marked f suitable only for southern and coast gardens. 



F.—Ei 



>ergreen trees for country towns in open parks and 

 spaces. 



Abies grandis. 

 „ Pinsapo. 

 Araucaria imbricata. 

 Cedrus atlantica. 

 „ Deodara. 

 „ Libani. 

 Cupressus Lawsoniana. 

 „ nootkatensis. 

 thyoides. 

 Juniperus chinensis. 

 Picea orientalis. 



„ pungens. 

 Piuus austriaca. 



Pinus Cembra. 



,, excelsa. 



,, Laricio. 



,, Strobus. 

 Pseudotsuga Douglasii. 

 Quercus Ilex. 

 Sequoia gigantea. 



sempervirens. 

 Taxus baccata and vars. 

 Thuia gigantea (Lobbi). 



„ occidentalis. 



,, orientalis. 



[W. J. B. 



CHAPTER XXIV, 



HARDY HERBACEOUS PERENNIALS. 



The Herbaceous Border — The Alpine Garden — 

 The Wild Garden. 



I. — The Herbaceous Border. 



In no department of the garden has more 

 distinct progress been made during the last 

 twenty years than in that devoted to the 

 cultivation of hardy herbaceous plants. An 

 excessive use of what are known as bedding 

 plants, and the consequent disparagement of 

 hardier but less gaudy perennials, brought about 

 a reaction in favour of the latter, with the 

 result that where dozens of such plants were 

 among garden favourites, hundreds are grown 

 now. It must not, however, be supposed that 

 bedding plants have not a distinct value in the 

 garden. There are certain positions and uses 

 for such plants as the "Scarlet Geranium" 



Coleus, Alternanthera, Heliotrope, Lobelia, 

 Calceolaria, &c, which could not well be filled 

 by other plants. For instance, no plant will 

 give such a continuous display of brilliant 

 scarlet, pink, or white flowers as bedding 

 G-eraniums do. Any plant might become a 

 bedding plant to its disadvantage, and yet 

 when properly used be of first-class value. 

 There are gardens in which beautiful dis- 

 plays of bedding plants are presented, and 

 which are beautiful because they are used with 

 taste. 



The number and variety of hardy herbaceous 

 plants, including alpines, now available for 

 gardening in the open air, render the selection 

 of suitable plants for almost any position com- 

 paratively easy. Whether the soil be heavy or 

 light, peaty or chalky, swamp-like or elevated 

 and fairly dry ; whether the position be exposed 

 or sheltered, shaded or open, worthy plants in 

 variety may be found that will grow and 

 flourish there if skill and knowledge are exer- 

 cised in selecting and planting them. Many 

 will thrive under diverse conditions. Anemone 

 japonica is an excellent plant for a shady, moist 

 situation under trees; it is equally valuable for 

 a bed on the lawn exposed to full sunshine, and 

 it is also one of the most useful plants for the 

 herbaceous border. 



The Herbaceous Border. — Where room can be 

 afforded, a spacious border should be given 

 up almost entirely to a collection of hardy 

 perennials. Groups of such shrubs as Roses, 

 Daphnes, Kerria, Forsythia, Honeysuckles, 

 Clematis, Spira?as, Deutzias, &c, may be effec- 

 tively mixed with the herbaceous plants in a 

 large border. The position most suitable is one 

 exposed to full sunshine all day, and sheltered 

 on the north and east by trees or shrubs, or, 

 failing these, a building or wall. Such a posi- 

 tion would be perfect ; but borders on each side 

 of a walk, or on the west side of a building, or 

 even cut in the open lawn, could be suitably 

 made to serve both for effect and to supply the 

 requirements of a collection of these plants. 

 The border should be prepared with the same 

 care and outlay as are expended on, for in- 

 stance, borders for kitchen-garden plants. The 

 soil should be thoroughly drained, trenched to 

 a depth of 2 feet, and well manured. A good 

 loam is the best of soils for a general collection 

 of plants, but except where the soil is unsuit- 

 able for gardening, it is not necessary to do 

 more than drain, trench, and manure before 

 planting. To merely clear a border of shrubs 

 or trees which have impoverished the soil, and 



