A View in Our Nursery, where We Grow Hardy Perennial Plants by the Acre' 



OF all the plants that are cultivated for purely ornamental purposes, there are none which have made such rapid strides in 

 public favor as the 01d=fashioned Hardy Garden Flowers, the inhabitants of the perennial garden. Their popu- 

 larity is "not at all surprising when we consider the many varied and pleasant changes which take place throughout the 

 entire growing season in a well-arranged hardy garden, in which every week — yes, every day — brings forth something fresh and 

 new to interest and delight even the most critical. Beginning in April, the early-flowering varieties open their flowers often before 

 the snow has entirely disappeared, and continue, with constant changing variety, throughout the summer until late in the fall, when 

 only severe freezing weather will stop such persistent late-blooming kinds as Japanese Anemones, Pompon Crysanthemums, Gail- 

 lardias, Gentians, Tritomas, etc. 



THE MAKING AND CARE OF AN OLD-FASHIONED HARDY BORDER. 



Frequent are the discussions and many are the ideas concern- 

 ing their cultivation and the best method of arranging them in 

 the garden, but no hard or fast lines can be laid down, as it 

 largely depends on location, the ground at the disposal, and 

 the individual taste of the cultivator. In arranging hardy 

 flowers one should never forget the ways of Nature, choosing 

 the flowers she uses in the positions she thinks most suitable, 

 while endeavoring to conceal stiffness of arrangement by a care- 

 ful study of her plans and the judicious use of the beautiful 

 hardy plants at our disposal. 



Situation. — There is no class of plants which lend them- 

 selves to such varied assortment of climatic or soil conditions, 

 but the most effective position for Hardy Perennial plants in 

 general is a good open border, backed by a hedge, a fence or 

 trellis covered with Rambling Roses or any other hardy climb- 

 ing vines ; while some of the taller-growing sorts, such as Hol- 

 lyhocks, Sunflowers, Rudbeckias, Boltonias, Bocconias, etc., 

 are also very attractive when planted throughout a shrubbery 

 border, their showy flowers forming a bright contrast with the 

 foliage of the shrubs throughout the summer and fall when few 

 of the latter are in bloom. 



Soil and Planting. — Cultivation is of the simplest, begin- 

 ning with any good garden soil as a foundation, which may be 

 enriched with such fertilizers as well-decomposed manure, bone- 

 meal, or sheep manure deeply dug and well-pulverized. The 

 best time to plant hardy plants is just when they are emerging 

 into life after their season's rest, when the weather is favorable 

 and the soil in condition, or they may be set out in the autumn. 

 Above all things avoid wet planting. Do not make the common 

 mistake of overcrowding ; give each plant sufficient room to 

 allow it to develop to its full size. The nearest approach to a 

 rule which may be followed in planting being to set out plants 

 which grow to a height of 2 feet or less 12 inches apart, and all 

 others space equal to one-half their height when developed. For 

 example, Aquilegias and Gypsophila, which grow 2 feet high, 

 may be planted 12 inches apart, while Delphinium formosum 

 and Japanese Iris, which grow 3 feet high, should be 18 inches 

 apart. Care should. also be taken to blend the colors through- 

 out the garden, so as to prevent too many of one shade of color 



coming together, causing jarring contrasts. The season of 

 flowering of the different types should also be taken into account, 

 and the different plants as evenly dispersed as possible, in order 

 to maintain an equality of flowering plants, leaving no portion 

 of the garden b ire or flowerless, nor crowding together too many 

 that bloom at the same time. 



Care in Summer. — During the growing season careful at- 

 tion 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 en- 

 couraging growth and keeping the weeds in check. During hot, 

 dry weather, or when it is not convenient to water, a mulch of 

 any loose, light material will be found very beneficial in retaining 

 the moisture and in keeping the soil from baking; short grass, 

 the rakings of the lawn after cutting, is excellent material for 

 this purpose. Early in summer many varieties 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 appearance as if grown natu- 

 rally 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 themselves more naturally to their 

 support than if this work is accomplished 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 workmanlike manner is 

 most apparent; and, while fully sympathizing with those whe 

 may not be able to spare the time or who may not have the 

 materials at hand necessary to perform this work in the best pos- 

 sible manner, it cannot be too strongly emphasized that these are 

 two of the most important 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 responding 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. 



The making and care of an Old-fashioned Hardy Border continued on next pane 



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