HARDY SUMMER FLOWERS. 



269 



large bed be set aside for the special benefit of the campanulas, 

 and if they are well planted, with due regard to their respective 

 heights and the many different shades of colour, a very interest- 

 ing display will be the result. True, one does not get in this 

 family the variety of colour obtainable in many other things, 

 but they vary from a Cambridge blue to an intense purple, and 

 the white varieties are very fine. 



Caknations. — These do remarkably well with me ; they are 

 put out quite early in the autumn, and the loss even in the most 

 severe winters has never exceeded 5 per cent. Early layering is 

 practised, to secure strong plants, and alike for layering and in 

 the preparation of the beds I find spent mushroom or peat moss 

 manure most serviceable, on account of its moisture-retaining 

 properties when incorporated with the natural soil, and a heavy 

 mulch of the same material is put on the beds immediately the 

 planting is finished. Comparison of experience between different 

 parts of the country shows that varieties vary in point of hardi- 

 ness in different soils and situations, so that it is impossible to 

 lay down a hard and fast rule as to sorts which would be 

 anywhere and everywhere reliable. 



Delphiniums. — Although, perhaps, the finest of all tall hardy 

 flowers, they are not naturally successful here — that is to say, I 

 cannot plant them as I do other things and be confident of good 

 results in the open borders. The foliage mildews badly and the 

 flowers are short-lived. They do better on a partially-shaded 

 border where the natural soil has been replaced by a mixture of 

 three parts stiff road sidings and one of cow manure. 



Sun Flowees. — Of the different forms of helianthus grown I 

 think the most useful are lsetiflorus, multiflorus maximus, plenus, 

 and soleil d'or. Hardly any genus is more easily cultivated 

 or gives such excellent results with a minimum of trouble. I 

 find it, however, advisable on our soil to lift them, say, every 

 third or fourth year, replanting the strongest pieces. 



Lobelias. — Herbaceous lobelias were formerly only seen in 

 just a few gardens, but they have advanced rapidly in favour the 

 last few years, and make very striking beds when planted in bold 

 clumps on a carpet of pinks, tufted pansy " White Swan," or the 

 silvery veronicas. A correspondence as to their hardiness 

 elicits the fact that it is found necessary to lift them in some 

 gardens. Here at Claremont, however, I always leave them in 



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