302 
The Garden Magazine, July, 1920 
valid reason why certain hardy annuals shouldn’t be set in oc- 
casionally, particularly in the beginning when the perennials 
have not reached their full development. Asters and Snapdrag- 
ons would do yeoman service as temporary fillers in. 
When it comes to the actual placing of the plants several 
general principles should be kept in mind. A mere jumble or 
hodgepodge will never answer. There must be something like 
a proper respect for each plant’s needs, and the opportunity and 
encouragement given to develop its own peculiar individuality. 
In most cases the effect will be more satisfactory — except per- 
haps where a single plant may be expected to develop into a 
fairly large specimen, like a Peony, or have a particularly com- 
pelling personality of its own, like the Kniphofia or Tritoma — 
to plant several, say three or five, of a sort together in one 
colony. Of very dwarf species an even larger number in a 
group might be better. 
I N GENERAL colonies, if they are intended as themselves 
part of large groups containing other plants with different 
characteristics, should be of a single color or at least all flower 
alike, whether the flowers show one or a combination of colors. 
Plants with unusually striking foliage, either highly colored or 
variegated, should be used with caution. 1 have seen such 
borders that were merely a confused mass of growth, where in 
the general melee all individuality, beauty, and charm were just 
about completely swallowed up and the whole planting without 
character in consequence. This sort of confusion arises mainly 
from the plants being ill-assorted as to size, character, and 
color; but it may be caused by over-crowding as well. 
In any garden planting, particularly in a border, I like the 
ground to be at all seasons as nearly hidden by plant growth 
as may be. At the same time room must be allowed for an 
occasional stirring of the soil, with a hand weeder amongst the 
very small plants, and with a scuffle hoe of some description 
among the larger kinds; and an annual shallow spading of the 
ground. At this latter operation some sort of fertilizer might 
well be worked into the soil. This spading or forking is most 
conveniently done early in the season before the plants have 
attained any considerable height. At this stage there is less 
likelihood of their being injured. Later on flower stalks are 
almost sure to be broken. 
HE accompanying sketches make a somewhat inadequate 
attempt to show in the first place what the general effect 
of such a double border as 1 have tried to describe might be, 
and in the second place the sort of individual treatment desirable 
in the grouping of the plants. A rather carefully designed in- 
formality is plainly obvious in the drawing of the border in its 
entirety. In a general way the taller plants and the shrubs are 
kept toward the back of the planting and the lower forms 
toward the front. This need not be an invariable rule, however. 
A taller plant form brought near the front line may be effective 
in breaking what might otherwise be a too monotonous surface, 
and so adding to the informal and picturesque character. The 
dark toned evergreen in one sketch gains in effectiveness by being 
treated in this manner. This drawing shows the effect of a 
cinder path leading to a gateway in a wall. In the more de- 
tailed sketch the brick pavement is indicated. In practice it 
might be better to introduce more plants than are shown in this 
drawing into the various groups, and to separate them by other 
plants to bloom at earlier or later times — for of course there 
should always be flowers in abundance. 
No one need be deterred from undertaking the building of 
this, one of the most delightful of all garden forms, through 
any feeling of unfitness for the task. A little reading and study 
and observation will give the necessary knowledge of the ma- 
terial available. And we all have some taste, which, thank 
Heaven! is quick to grow if we give it a chance and coddle it 
along a bit. Provide the path and two beds of rich earth and 
set about placing the plants. It will, I wager, be impossible to 
produce an absolutely bad effect. It is neither necessary nor, 
for that matter, altogether desirable, that the thing should 
burst into full perfection at once. The greater satisfaction and 
fuller joy will be found in a gradual growth toward perfection 
which will come about through the changes one’s experience and 
observation will lead one to make. 
A GARDEN SEAT OF SIMPLE LINES 
IN WOOD OR STONE OR CEMENT 
Against a clipped hedge or a deep bank of ever- 
greens is an inviting goal for a walk’s ^end 
