5S 



The Garden Magazine, September, 1919 



THE EVER-PLEASING MOTIF OF A LONG, BALANCED WALK 

 Greatly enhanced by the heavy planting of their background are the Bellflowers, Larkspurs, 

 Veronicas, and Pinks here blooming in the blue and white borders behind the turf edging 



PER CENT. 



Beauty 30 



Length of blooming season 20 



Ease of cultivation 20 



Adaptability 15 



Hardiness 15 



On this percentage basis, it is easy to determine the rank of 

 any candidate for the garden, the one variable factor being 

 the first. That is, it is a matter of individual decision 

 whether a Peony or an Iris is the more beautiful flower; 

 hence it is for each to exercise right here the personal prefer- 

 ence that makes for distinction in any garden. 



Obviously I cannot go into the detail of the application of 

 this test to all of the plants herein mentioned; but since they 

 are mentioned, it is understood that they have measured up 

 to an average higher than that of anything that has been 

 omitted. The definite application may very easily be made 

 by any one sufficiently interested to do a little figuring — just 

 as any one's favorite that may have been omitted here may 

 be tested and assigned to its proper place in relation to 

 those here given. 



Over-emphasis of Color Schemes 



OF COLOR I am impelled to say that questions have 

 been raised, in my opinion, that are utterly forced, that 

 turn the whole matter into a chimerical bugaboo; and that 

 it is high time we had the wisdom and the courage to look 

 this fearsome creature squarely in the eye and see him melt 

 away! The simple truth is that, barring a very few unlikely 

 unhappy combinations, garden colors will get along beau- 



tifully unless we ourselves set them at ears by expecting 

 them to quarrel. In certain places and under certain special 

 circumstances to be sure, it is possible to carry, by means of 

 color study, a high degree of finished beauty into a scheme; 

 and with this sort of legitimate interest in color I have no 

 quarrel. But with the morbid finickiness that distinguishes 

 certain lines of thought regarding color I have equally no 

 patience! And would earnestly entreat that they be at once 

 abandoned to the ignominy properly awaiting them. 



The facts are that, for the beginnings at any rate, color 

 will pretty well take care of itself; and not until beginnings 

 have been made, and a planting tested by actually seeing 

 it through a year's aspects will it be possible to enter upon 

 those refinements of arrangement that lead to fuller and 

 richer beauty. Unless you are planting with the idea of 

 some very definite color effect or combination in mind there- 

 fore, I would urge going ahead in confidence and fearlessly, 

 with faith in the general amiability of flowers and their good 

 intentions toward each other. They will fully justify it. 



Expansion As Time Goes On 



SOMETIMES it happens that a border is planted com- 

 plete at the time the work is done, and yet must ex- 

 pand afterward, through alterations or a change that ex- 

 tends the space which logically it should fill. This brings a 

 problem frequently not well solved, since the gardener so 

 often feels that it offers an opportunity for the introduction 

 of altogether new material — new kinds I mean, as well as 

 new plants. As a matter of actuality, the extending of an 

 old border ought to be just that; never the adding on of a new 



