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£ 3 



PLANTING AND CULTURE. 

 It has been stated that Hardy Perennials can be 

 successfully planted any day of the year when the 

 ground is not frozen. If planted in summer time, it 

 is necessary to shield the plants from the sun for a 

 week or ten days by placing a handful of loose litter 

 or straw upon each plant or by putting strawberry bas- 

 kets over them; and to water copiously. There is 

 also danger of heating in transit if shipped in hot 

 weather. Therefore, spring and autumn are the best 

 seasons for planting — some persons prefer autumn 

 planting and others claim spring to be the better sea- 

 son. As a matter of fact, neither spring nor fall is to 

 be preferred for the entire list of varieties. Beyond 

 question, Peonias, Phlox, Dicentra and Hemerocallis 

 make the best growth when planted in autumn; while 

 Anemonies, Foxgloves, Canterbury Bells, Hollyhocks, 

 Sweet Williams, Stokesias and others I might name, 

 frequently perish the first winter if planted in the fall; 

 though they are perfectly hardy after they become well 

 established in their new homes. It is essential to give 

 a covering or " mulch" of some description to all fall 

 plantings. Loose, light manure is perhaps the best 

 material, though almost anything that is not too heavy 

 and soggy will answer. It should be applied as soon 

 as the earth has become crusted by freezing and forked 

 into the soil upon the approach of pleasant weather in 

 spring; when all danger of freezing is over. Do not 

 permit it to remain until the plants have become 

 "started" or made considerable growth; for they will 

 then be more or less damaged when the "digging in" 

 process is performed. The proper distance for placing 

 each plant from its neighbors depends upon the habit 

 of the variety — whether it be a strong and vigorous 

 grower or one of more dwarf and compact habit — 

 varying from a few inches to as much as two feet. 

 Those in the front line should be planted closely in or- 

 der to cover and conceal the earth quickly. Plants of 

 creeping or spreading habit and with attractive foliage, 

 — such as the Moss Pinks — are frequently planted 

 with tall growing varieties to cover the ground. In 

 planting, straighten and spread out the roots, and press 

 the soil down firmly; but place no deeper than the 

 plants stood in the nursery. The only culture needed 

 is to keep the soil loose and free of weeds by hoeing, 

 the staking here and there of a plant that needs sup- 

 port and the removal of faded flowers. In hot, dry 

 weather a thorough watering is decidedly beneficial. 

 If without conveniences to water readily, a mulching 

 of lawn clippings or other loose, light material will 

 produce results almost as good. By giving the beds 

 and borders an annual dressing of well rotted manure 

 or compost in the autumn, and forking it into the soil in 

 the spring, (as directed above for new autumn plant- 

 ings), the size, beauty and quantity of bloom will be 

 greatly increased. 



QUALITY OF PLANTS. 

 As in other things, there is a great difference in 

 the quality of plants of Hardy Perennials — so vast a 

 difference that "comparisons are odious." For ex- 



