HARDY PLANTS 
AND HOW TO GROW THEM 
^HEN possible the border or plot where the hardy plant# are to be jni .^uould be pre- 
pared the previous tail by a thorough spading of the soil to a depth o( at leaat one 
toot. The soil should be thoroughly pulverued at the time of digging, and U inclined 
to be heavy a good coating of air-alacked lime spread over the surface and raked in 
will lighten the soil greatly. As a rule hardy plants and vines should be set in the 
early spring as soon as nature starts forth the new growth. 
FaU planting is sometimes practiced in mild climates but is not advisable in latitudes of zero 
winters. Very little if any fertilizer should be used in new borders and where used at all it should 
be spread over the surface after the plants are set. Severe losses often occur where plants are 
set in heavily-manured soil. A general rule for planting Is to set the plant with the crown (the 
point at which the new growth starts) about one inch below the surface of the soil. There are 
somo variations from this rule, notably those of the Peony, Bleeding Heart, Hibiscus, and Lilies, 
aU ot which should be set at least four inches below the surface. 
After the hardy border has become established a very moderate amount of care is all that is 
roflulred for a number of years, and yet this care must not approach the point of neglect. Early 
each spring the dead tops muBt be cut away and a light coating of well-rotted manure applied and 
forked in. Wood ashes or sheep manure make good fertilisers for hardy plants. Many hardy plants 
seed freely and for this reason the tops or seed-bearing portion should be broken off ind carried 
out ot the garden as soon as the blooming season is over or the seed may become a nuisance and 
besides seedy plants are unsightly. The plants, however, should not be denuded of foliage, as 
nature requires this for winter protection. Some of the very best of our hardy plants increase 
very rapidly through root growths and in a tew years will cover a large space to the exclusion of 
their neighbors if permitted to grow at will. But as these growths are usually formed in the fall, 
they can easily be removed while digging the l)ed over in the spring. The list of really good plants 
iB too long to be given here. It is not out of place, however, to say that there are plants suited to 
practically all locations. This class ot plants Is comparatively free from disease and insect pests, 
which renders tkem all the more desirable. They also cover the entire season from spring to 
heavy trosts. 
Wky Dealerf Do Not Guarantee Plants 
HIS question is often asked, and yet it is a vei-y easy one answered and the reasenable- 
Cness of the answer is dearly apparent to all. To guarantee the life of a plnnt in the 
hands of another person is to make th e dealer responsible for the errors and inexperi- 
ence ot others, not to mention freaks of weather and unfavorable seasons,' cut worms, 
insects, bad soil, unfavorable locations and many other conditions, over which the dealer 
bM no oontroL Then, again, there are customers who buy plants so late in the season that 
th»M can be but little hope of success. Most dealers are ready and willing to make good plants 
that are dead upon arrival, but it would be unreasonably to ask them to become responsible for 
the future lite or conduct of a plant received in good condition. Fortunately the percentage of lost ' 
la hardy plants is small, as they are very tenacious of life. 
W. W. WiiaiORE, Denver, Colo. 
CLASSIFICATION OF DAHLIAS 
T([hm I, OactajL — TbiJ> class embrflseai tl.ip Ions, nor- 
Row-p«t*l»a VBJ-letlea, the petals of wtitcti ar« gpneraUy 
I/alntM or twlst«d. 
etaM 1. IfaottMru. — This class Is aji IntermedlnTA 
form, navlo* broad, flat petals. 
Olaaa a. Vaacy. — ^ThJ* class takes In all variegated 
■rAtlatlec. 
Vaoay XtoWMwA. — A aemi-aouble ot th» ti.^i?ornti.v-«> 
torsa. 
CA«M 4. yom.poa.— 'i «mbnu)e« the aniAlJ. 
round Da hlJjiB. . ■ ; • 
Olaaa 6. Mbow. — The iMnic» .^ill^>v.' apptte.< to those va- 
rieties producitiB largo, well-formed tlowocs, uhowlnt: 
only solid colors, but may frequently have sjifidod tips. 
CiMS a, Btayle.— Too 5V«U known to require a de- 
scription. 
KAMI* SROS . PniNTSne DENVht 
