The Making and Care of an Old-Fashioned Hardy Border.— Continued 
Care in Summer.—During the growing season careful at- 
tention should be given if best results are to be obtained. 
There is nothing so beneficial as frequent stirring up around 
the plants, and raking the ground into order again; it allows 
the air to move more freely through the surface of the soil, 
thereby encouraging growth and keeping the weeds in check: 
During hot, dry weather, or when it is not convenient to waiter, 
a mulch of any loose, light material will be found very’ benefi- 
cial in retaining the moisture and in keeping the soil from bak- 
ing; short grass, the rakings of the lawn after- cutting, is ex- 
cellent material for this purpose. Early in summer many varie- 
ties will have made considerable growth, and the supporting of 
these should be taken up in time. It is hardly possible to stake 
and tie up a plant so that it will have the same graceful appear- 
ance as if grown naturaljy without their aid; still, supports 
should be inserted at all tall-growing sorts early in the season 
while the plants are small. In this way they will lend them- 
selves more naturally to their support than if this work is ac- 
complished after the plants have made considerable growth. 
Once the plants get broken down or allowed to get ‘‘set”’ it is 
impossible to tie them up into natural shape again. This phase 
of summer work in the garden is often considered a matter of 
small importance, yet the difference between doing same in a 
slipshod and a workman-like manner is most apparent; and, 
while fully sympathizing with those who may not be able to 
spare the time or who may not have the materials at hand neces- 
sary to perform this work in the best possible manner, it cannot 
be too strongly emphasized that these are two of the most im- 
portant factors in the successful cultivation of all out-of-door 
plants. The removal of old flower stems will also materially 
help the appearance of the plants at all times, many species re- 
sponding to this treatment with an extra crop of flowers later 
in the season. All decayed foliage should also be removed, so 
as to keep the garden neat and tidy at all seasons. 
Winter Care.—About the middle of November or later, 
when all the soft growth has been killed by the frost and the 
plants are thoroughly ripened, the old hard-wooded stems 
should be removed and burnt up. - It will then be found bene- 
ficial to cover the plants with a top dressing of loose stable lit- 
ter, or, if this is not to be had, a covering of leaves—Nature’s 
protection. This covering is best applied when the ground is 
in a dry condition, and should not be overdone, two or three 
inches spread over loosely being all that is required. A deeper 
covering would incite the plants into premature growth in the 
early spring, with a liability of damage by late frosts; don’t be 
in a hurry to cover the plants; a little frost will do them good. 
As the extreme cold weather begins to disappear this covering 
should be removed by degrees, allowing any young growths 
which the plants may have made to gradually harden off. 
This process usually occupies only a few days, after which the 
piants may be fully exposed to the sunshine, and the litter or 
covering which has protected them during the winter may be 
raked up and removed. 
Replanting.—It is all- nonsense to suppose that hardy 
Perennials once planted require no attention for several years. 
The truth is, if. we wish them to give entire satisfaction, we 
must each spring see that each variety is treated in the best 
manner to insure its fullest development during the next flower- 
ing season. Many ideas are advanced on the question of how 
often they ought to be divided and transplanted, but no positive 
rule can be applied. Some sorts will take two or three years or 
even longer to get established and develop their fuliest beauty 
after being transplanted, and usually the longer they are’ allowed 
to grow without disturbance the better results will be accom= 
plished, while others should be transplanted or reset each 
season. 
Most hardy plants which flower during the spring or early 
summer months, such as Anthericum, Peonies, Doronicum, 
Dielytras, etc., produce their new growth from the crown of 
close, compact roots, and are better if left undivided and un- 
disturbed for several years, the only care necessary for these be- 
ing a liberal covering with fresh soil or compost early in spring. 
The late summer and autumn blooming species are usually of a 
more vigorous growth. Such sorts as Helianthus, Rudbeckias, 
Asters, Boltonias, ° Physostegias, etc., on which the original 
crowns die out each season and many new side growths are 
made, are far better if replanted each season, selecting from 
three to five of the strongest growths, which, after the ground 
has been redug and enriched, may be reset in the same position 
or replanted to another section of the garden. Treated in this 
manner, they will not only produce flowers of larger size and 
finer colors, but will keep the stronger and more rampant grow- 
ing varieties from crowding out their equally interesting but 
| less vigorous neighbors. 
Many not thoroughly familiar with this class of plants have an idea that nothing but a large field-grown clump will give satisfac- 
tory returns the first season, 
This, as experience has taught us, is in most instances a mistake. 
A vigorous plant of proper size. 
will, in nearly every case, give quicker and better returns than the best so-called ‘‘field clumps.’’? The majority of the stock 
offered in this catalogue is pot grown. 
This does not mean that the plants have been altogether pct-grown, but that they have 
been field-grown and dug and potted up during the fall months, and such stock can be planted, even late in the spring, with prac- 
tically no loss, which, in the case of clumps, is often quite serious. 
amateur, W. C. Egan, endorses our views on this matter. 
GENTLEMEN—Your shipment of perennials arrived safely to-day in most excellent order. 
Your system of growing these in pots allows shipment without disturbing the roots, thus insur- 
profit, to receive plants from you. 
ing uninterrupted growth and no loss in planting. 
The following letter from the well-known and successful 
EGANDALE, ILL, 
It certainly is a pleasure as well asa 
Respectfully yours, 
W. C. Ecan. 
DREER’S COLLECTIONS OF HARDY PERENNIAL PLANTS 
The list of Hardy Perennial plants whicn we offer in our Garden Book is admitted to be the most complete and up-to-date 
collection in the country, and we are continually adding all the new rare and desirable sorts, 
While we are not in the landscape business and cannot undertake the preparation of plans for planting or 
laying out of grounds, we have had prepared by a competent landscape architect a series of Plans of Hardy Borders 
with a list of suitable plants for positions either in sun or shade. 
application 
We will be pleased to send a leaflet containing same free on 
We also offer customers who are not acquainted with the different sorts the following collections. all in good, strong 
roots, which when once planted will, with little care, keep the garden gay with flowers from the time frost leaves the ground 
until late in autumn. 
These collections are made up of species and varieties strictly of our selection, and we are unable to sub- 
mit list of contents, as the assortment varies at different periods during the planting season. 
12 distinct species, our selection.........-.+.--- 
25 ee oe oe ai 
...--$2 00 
.. 4 00 
50 distinct species and varieties, our selection, .... is 
64% 
100 ve ee ve se ae 
NOTE.—All Bulbs, Roots and Plants are forwarded by Express, purchaser paying charges. If. wanted by Parcel Post add 10 per cent, 
to value of order to points east of the Mississippi River, and 20 per cent. to points west of the Mississippi River. 
(16::) 
