CATALOGUE OF HARDY PX^AJTIS. 
DIPFEEEXT WATS IN GARDEITING. 
WHAT ARE HARDY HERBACEOUS PERENOTALS ? 
Ab this catalogue I3 devoted mainly to Hardy Herbaceous Poronnial 
Plants, it is proper to explain what they are. The term hardy is sufllciently 
"Well understood ; perenuial plants are those which live Jrom year to year, 
and do not die oft at the end of one year, like annuals^ or at the end of two 
yeajs, like bienniaU. But shrubs and trees are perennials, and to distinguish 
those plants of ■vrhieb the stem dies down every year, while the root remains 
idive for many years, thoy are called 7ie)-haoeous perennials, as they have herb- 
like stems. 
FLOUNDERING SHKXJB3. 
It is sometimes difflcult to draw the lino between hcrbaceoue porounlala 
and some of the woody perennials, or shrubs. Many of the low-prowhig 
fihrubs are quite in place in the herbaceous bed, as are a number of plants 
which are only half shrubs, the lower part of the stem becoming woody, 
while the upper part remains green and dies down in winter. 
As proper associates for the herbaceous plants we have included several 
flue shrubs, andwoodv climbers, believing that both these would be more 
generally cultivated if people know which were the desirable Idnds. 
A SHORT TALK ON GARDENING. 
Within the last twenty or twenty-flvo years new fashions have been Intix)- 
duecd in gardening. The Massing" or '* Bedding" fltylcs, unknown to old 
gardeners, have been introduced, In which whole beds, or parts of beds, are 
filled with plants of ouo kind, which by their flowers, or brightly-colored 
foliage, produce n brilliant effect. Plants with Btrongly contrasting colors 
set cloaely in lines, form what is called ribbon-planting," and Is often very 
effective. In this stylo of gardening, omamoutal designG, soraetlmcs largo 
and elaborate, are worked out in flowers and foliage of different colors. The 
plants used In this kind of planting ore mostly greenhouse kinds, such as 
Pelargoniums or GeranlumB, Colcuscs, and many others, and some aunuals 
aroused. There are not very many herbaceous perennials that can bo thus 
employed, though some are suited to this work. When this stylo of garden- 
ing was first introduced abroad, it becamo immensely popular, and allplanta 
not capable of being used In bedding, fell into euch neglect that many were 
In danger of being lost to cultivation. Since then a reaction has taken place, 
and while bedding will always bo practised, other kinds of gardening now re- 
ceive, and are likely in the future to receive, more attention than thoy have 
had of late. 
SUB-TROPICAL GARDENING 
is another recent etylo, in which plants are valued more for the beauty of 
their form and the grace of their foliage, than for their flowcra. In gardening 
in this style, plants of various claaeee are used ; Palms, Bananas, and otbcra 
from the hot-hoaso; Caator-oU planta and other tall-growing annuals, and. 
