THE CULTIVATION OF HARDY FLOWERS. 



445 



this is of the utmost importance with all the double varieties, but 

 does not apply to the single ones, which are far more beautiful 

 if the side buds are left on, but the doubles are so double that 

 they have quite as much as they can manage to develop one 

 good flower on every stalk. When blooming time is over the 

 seed-vessels should be carefully removed, one more soaking of 

 manure-water given, and then leave the bed till the November 

 clearing-up time comes again, and then, da capo, never omitting 

 the 3-inch mulch of cow-dung or its equivalent. 



THE CULTIVATION OF HARDY FLOWERS. 



By the Rev. C. Wolley-Dod, M.A. 



[Eead June 24, 1890.] 



Our problem for to-day is, "given a garden, it is required to 

 make it gay with hardy flowers for about ten months in the year." 

 Hardy flowers suitable for mixed borders often belong to plants 

 of shrubby habit, or bulbs or annuals, but the larger part of 

 them grow upon herbaceous plants. Time will not allow me to 

 include to-day any description of the special cultivations of rock 

 plants, or alpines properly so called, though the term " alpines " 

 is often used indefinitely, and includes many things suitable for 

 the mixed borders ; but I propose to deal with hardy plants, as 

 the term is generally understood by the mass of amateur gardeners, 

 to whom I address myself. 



Probably all my hearers have a garden with hardy plants in 

 it already ; they wish to know how to select more, and how to 

 grow them all in the best way. In visiting other gardens they 

 make notes of what they see and admire, they observe what is 

 praised in gardening journals, and in due time send an order to 

 a nurseryman, and when the fifty plants ordered arrive, they 

 plant them haphazard in the mixed borders. The result rarely 

 comes up to their expectation. Perhaps many of the things 

 ordered would never thrive in their soil and climate under the 

 most skilful treatment — for every plant has its likes and dislikes, 

 which must be considered if it is to do well. 



In the first place, the soil must be well drained ; amateurs 



