May, 19 17 
THE GARDEN MAGAZINE 
237 
must have them. They are not pic- 
turesque growing, but so sweet 
smelling and fragrant. For years I 
have been experimenting and pond- 
ering how to plant so as not to spoil 
the scheme of the garden and yet 
have the blossoms. Finally I have 
stumbled upon a plan which I find 
good for my garden. A dozen to 
fifteen plants planted separately in 
rich soil will supply enough blossoms 
for a handsome display in the house. 
Plant the seed in February in small 
pots in the house, 3 seeds to a pot. 
When they come up, pull out the 
two weakest plants, leaving one 
sturdy plant. After it has sent out 
four to six leaves nip off the top. 
This causes it to branch. As soon 
as the weather permits, generally 
here the last of April or early May, 
I set these plants out here and 
there in an open space. Then I 
transplant near it for the Sweet 
Pea plant to climb on a single plant 
of Boltonia. The Boltonia sends 
out few leaves, two only at intervals 
up the plant for several feet. The 
Sweet Pea tendrils work their way 
in and out up the stalk, and lo, 
you have blossoms on a live stalk. 
If the sweet Pea withers all you 
have to do is to pull off the dead 
vine and you have a plant to take 
its place that will send forth a lacy 
white bouquet in the fall when 
one wants flowers so much. 
PEONIES, THE GARDEN’S MONARCHS 
One cannot do without those 
monarchs of the garden — Peonies. 
Where pray have these been placed? 
two stunning plants in my 7-foot 
The trellises and arches help to frame the garden views and focus the sight onto 
proper places. Rambler Roses drape them in June 
I have help out with color in June; then a hedge 
strip to of them has been placed either side of the 
lawn, continuing the outline of the 
1 ulip border up toward the house. 
In front of my porch overlooking 
the garden is a hedge of Elizabeth 
Campbell Phlox, back of this white 
Foxgloves, and in front Columbine. 
At either end is that lovely single 
Peony Araeos, which blossoms with 
the Columbine. With pink and 
white, it makes a lovely combina- 
tion. I cannot say good-by to the 
fall blossoms without mention of 
the Japanese Anemone, pale pink 
and pure white. They are so lovely 
they just pull at the heart strings. 
I have a hedge of them in front of 
my cellar window. The lot is so 
shaped that the garden is on a 
slope, so at the rear of the house 
is a deep brick foundation of, I 
should say 12 feet. This wall is 
covered with Japanese Ivy, at the 
base of which is a Barberry hedge 
which is kept clipped. In front 
of the hedge are the Japanese Ane- 
mones. It seems to be just the 
place for them, for they flourish 
so vigorously. Here in the spring 
time is a charming border of yel- 
low Pansies, Forget-me-nots, and 
English Daisies, and rising from the 
Darwins is Tulip Gesneriana lutea 
pallida, which is pale yellow. 1 hat 
makes one of the most exquisite 
borders you would ever care to see. 
Such a joy is even a small garden, 
that home would not be home 
without these beautiful blossoms, 
that come to welcome us year after 
year. It is something any one can 
possess with not too much work, 
and such work as there is brings with it health, 
joy, and happiness. 
The New Race of Hardy Astilbes A - E - ™ ATCHER 
RECENT IMPROVEMENTS UPON THE WELL KNOWN FLORISTS SPIRAEA” THAT HAVE GIVEN A GROUP OF GRACE- 
FULLY FLOWERED PLANTS IN PINK, ROSE AND WHITE, FOR BOTH BORDER AND GREENHOUSE 
T HE well known “florists Spiraea,” 
or correctly Astilbe japonica, to- 
gether with the best of its numer- 
ous varieties and hybrids have for 
years been popular, both in private gardens 
and commercially, for Easter decoration and 
cut flower purposes. Indeed many thousand 
roots are imported annually from Europe as 
their adaptability to all kinds of floral work 
and the simplicity of their cultivation made 
them practically indispensable. Now, al- 
though hardy and suitable for the outdoor 
border they have never been very common in 
the hardy garden and it is their value in this 
regard that I would now emphasize and es- 
pecially to draw attention to the superb race of 
plants produced by the European plantsman 
M. Arends and generally known as the 
“Arendsi Hybrids.” 
Previous to the appearance of these hy- 
brids some very fine varieties had 
become popular, of which Peach 
Blossom and Queen Alexandra 
are well known examples. That 
redoubtable hybridist, V. Lem- 
oine was also responsible for 
the introduction of some greatly 
improved varieties, some of the more note- 
worthy being Nuee Rose, Panache, Mont 
Among the new Arendsi Astilbes is a range of color from 
white and cream to pink and rose-purple, with height rang- 
ing to six feet. Excellent for the greenhouse 
Blanc and Nebuleux. The Lemoine hybrids 
are all expellent garden plants, much stronger 
in growth than the older japonica forms and 
including many delightful pink and rose 
shades, the result of Astilbe chinensis and others 
being used in their making. 
It remained, however, for another Chinese 
species (or two species) to produce the mag- 
nificent Arendsi Hybrids and our gardens are 
beautified to-day with what hardly seemed 
possible a short decade \go. 
Something more than a dozen years ago 
Mr. Wilson introduced from the wilds of 
China two remarkable species of Astilbe which 
were destined to play an all-important 
part in the production of the beautiful hybrids 
we now have. Astilbe Davidi is perhaps 
the better known of the two, and more 
generally planted on account of the con- 
spicuous red of the flowers, but its con- 
gener, Astilbe grandis is also a de- 
sirable garden plant with creamy 
white flowers. Under favorable con- 
ditions these two plants soon attain 
eir maximum size and are conspicuous 
objects in the garden. Both have large 
spreading leaves but of an entirely different 
character; those of Astilbe Davidi being very 
dark green and the leaflets narrow, while 
