530 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



AUTUMN BORDER FLOWERS. 

 By Bernard Crisp, F.R.H.S. 



[Read September 23, 1913 ; Mr. A; W. Hill, M.A., in the Chair.] 



Before I discuss the question of autumn border plants, I should like 

 to claim a kind of poetical licence as regards the exact time that these 

 plants are expected to be in bloom. I do not wish to get too close to 

 what the calendar calls autumn, but I think that when one first hears 

 the cry of the Lavender-seller in the streets of London one can come to 

 the conclusion that the summer is on the wane, and that the time of 

 autumn border plants is at hand. 



To have a grand effect with herbaceous plants, there is no better 

 way of planting to show their best form of growth and colour than 

 the long double border with, if possible, a grass path between, and it 

 is this grass path that gives a great additional charm, as not only does 

 it make a splendid groundwork for the plants, but it is always soft 

 to the eye and comes as a relief on a hot summer day from the 

 hard sun-baked gravel generally considered the only material for 

 garden walks. 



Of course, if a lot of wheeling has to be done on this path one must 

 revert to the gravel ; but if it is only a path by which the border may 

 be viewed, by all means have it of grass. 



To have small beds of herbaceous plants is, as a rule, unsatisfactory ; 

 it is difficult to cover up the plants that are past their best and a 

 proper plan of colour is impossible. Though for a time you may 

 get a blaze of colour, it is not always pleasing to the eye, and might 

 better be described as a " vulgar riot " of colour. 



For instance, if you have the strong colours in a bed on a wide 

 lawn, it always looks harsh ; you cannot lead up to the strong colours. 

 If, on the other hand, you have the soft colours there, it often looks 

 insipid. 



To have the same border always bright, let alone a blaze of colour, 

 from April to October is impossible, and the only way to get continuous 

 bloom in the garden is to have separate borders for different seasons 

 of the year. 



It will, however, be found that the early and late borders are in 

 bloom for a shorter period of time than the main summer one ; and it 

 is this reason that induces me to select the last as the one that will 

 probably suit the majority of people's requirements. The early 

 bedding plants and bulbs, with the help of a small border for May and 

 June, will probably give as much bloom elsewhere early in the year 

 as is required of the moderate-sized garden ; and I think it much 



