26 BOOK OF THE COTTAGE GARDEN 



too closely covered with creepers, but merely relieved 

 from bareness by a light drapery of Vine, Wistaria, and 

 Rose. 



To provide colour and greenness during winter, the 

 border may be well planted with a carpeting of hardy 

 Alpines — Stonecrops, Rockfoils, Partridge Berry, and 

 the dwarf Heaths. In spring, these will be pierced with 

 the leaf and bloom-spikes of Crocuses, Snowdrops, Scillas, 

 and the choicer varieties of Narcissi ; later on, Spanish 

 Irises and Fritillaries will take their places. In summer 

 the border may overflow with good things, autumn find- 

 ing it still fair with late Tea Roses, Cardinal Flowers, 

 and Autumn Crocuses. I have drawn particular atten- 

 tion to this style of border, as it is perhaps the most 

 beautiful of all, more intimate certainly than those in 

 other parts of the garden, bringing to our very windows 

 the fairest flowers of the year. For very small gardens 

 it is, indeed, the way of all others in which to provide 

 an ideal setting for a building, be it featureless or of 

 good design. 



Before giving the names of suitable plants for mixed 

 borders, it may be well to briefly enumerate the points 

 which should be observed in making and stocking them : 

 (l) Thoroughly prepare the borders by deep digging, 

 the provision of ample drainage, and the use of freshly 

 composted soil. (2) Remove the existing soil to a depth 

 of at least 2^ feet before inserting the drainage material. 



(3) Let the borders be few in number, but of such size 

 that they may form bold features in the garden scene. 



(4) Avoid the proximity of trees, and also heavily 

 shaded positions ; shrubbery borders must be filled with 

 specially robust plants. (5) Ensure almost perpetual 

 bloom by choosing plants which flower in succession. 



(6) Use only hardy plants, and the best of each genus. 



(7) If plants fail, insert others in their place, carefully 

 tending them until they have become established. 



