THE HERBACEOUS BORDER. 
3 
Phloxes, or Pentstemons. To keep an ordinary border of herbaceous 
plants uniformly attractive from spring to autumn is extremely 
difficult, if not well-nigh impossible, and it is this fact which has 
caused the more formal summer-bedding of half-hardy plants to 
be adhered to in many private gardens and most public parks. 
Enthusiasts who have ample space and means can arrange a 
series of what are termed seasonal borders, devoting each to plants 
that bloom at a certain time — and there are several instances in the 
country where very attractive spring, summer, and autumn borders 
each in turn delight the eyes of owner and visitors alike. But in a small 
garden this is impossible, and as it is here the defects of the ordinary 
borders are most noticeable and vexatious, it becomes necessary and 
wise to call in the aid of other plants, and to adopt carefully thought- 
out schemes of arrangement. A judicious use of flowering shrubs, 
interspersed or grouped among the herbaceous plants, is of great 
value. The hardy Ericas, for instance, may be so arranged as to provide 
pleasing dashes of colour at seasons of the year when the colour is 
most wanted. The brooms, such as Cytisus praecox, give us some early 
blossom, and the berried Pernettyas are useful when other things are 
past. The handsome fruits of Arbutus Unedo will brighten a spot 
that has lost all other interest, and in the depth of winter the Wych 
Hazels will provide quaint flowers and delicious fragrance. To speak 
exhaustively of the charms and possibilities of the entire range of 
early-flowering shrubs would be too great a task even for the whole 
afternoon, but it must suffice to throw out simply the suggestion that 
those who take upon themselves the task of arranging and planting 
a garden should endeavour rather to mingle shrubs with herbaceous 
plants than to confine themselves entirely to the latter. 
Again, I would strongly advocate the liberal use of hardy annuals, 
especially for the purpose of filling in vacant spaces where early- 
flowering plants have passed their effective stage, or late ones are 
still in the process of development. Of course it is necessary, when 
planting the permanent features, to work to a plan that provides room 
in convenient positions for these fill-gaps, and it is also advisable to 
make both autumn and spring sowings of the annuals in order to 
obtain both early and late flowers to meet all requirements. The sowing 
is best made in the reserve garden, so that the plants can be put 
out as required, and for this purpose I can strongly recommend the 
use of the paper or cardboard seed-raisers, which enable the plants to be 
transplanted without disturbance of the roots. Another method of 
planning a border capable of yielding good results is to carpet the 
ground with close-growing plants such as Aubrietias, Arabis, Forget- 
me-nots, Saponaria ocymoides, Violas, &c, and to intersperse somewhat 
thinly taller erect-growing subjects that will grow through without 
smothering the carpeting plants, and flower at various seasons. Such 
things as Anthericums, Camassias, Liatris spicata, Michauxia cam- 
panuloides, Galtonia candicans, Gladioli, and Lilies, are but a few 
suitable subjects for such arrangements, and whether in borders or in 
