A View IN our NURSERY, WHERE WE GROW HarDy PERENNIAL PLANTS BY THE ACRE 
F all the plants that are cultivated for purely ornamental purposes there are none which have made such rapid strides in 
public favor as the Old-fashioned Hardy Garden Flowers, the inhabitants of the perennial garden. Their popularity 
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 border, 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 Chrysanthemums, 
Gaillardias, Gentians, Tritomas, etc. 
Twenty years ago there were very few Hardy Perennial Borders outside of some large establishments where one or more pro- 
fessional gardeners were employed, who were familiar with the beauties of the hardy borders as found in almost every garden on 
the other side of the Atlantic, and who knew how to plan, and plant, and care for them. But a great change has taken place in 
this country within the last ten years, and there is now a steady and growing interest in this class of plants, and to-day almost 
everyone who is fortunate enough to have even a small garden devotes at least a part of it to hardy plants. 
THE MAKING AND CARE OF AN-OLD-FASHIONED HARDY BORDER 
Frequent are the discussions and many are the ideas concerning their cultivation and the hest method of arranging them in the 
garden. 
In arranging hardy flowers orie 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 careful 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 Holly- 
hocks, Sunflowers, Rudbeckias, Boltonias, Bocconias, etc., are 
also very attractive when planted throughout a shrubbery bor- 
der, 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. Donot make the com- 
mon 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 for- 
mosum and Japanese Iris, which grow 3 feet high, should be 18 
inches apart. Care should also be taken to blend the colors 
throughout the garden, so as to prevent too many of one shade 
of color coming together, causing jarring contrasts. The sea- 
son 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 bare or flowerless, nor crowding together 
too many that bloom at the same time. 
This article is continued on next page 
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