shows its color; for of all garden harmonies I dearly love the pale 
blues and mauves, brilliant blues and deep violets set over against each 
other. 
If my description of this small flower scheme for this spring 
interests any member of the Garden Club of America to the extent of 
creating a wish to know its results in flowers, I shall be most happy to 
report success or failure. 
Some little TUsefc Bering flMants 
MRS. EDWARD B. RENWICK, Short Hills Garden Club 
Now that many of us are planning color masses in our gardens, 
a blue flower which is seldom used may help some one's need of fill- 
ing in a bare spot. 
Plumbago Capensis is a lovely light blue, much resembling 
Phlox Divaricata in form and color. In its native South Africa and in 
Southern California it grows into a large shrub. Hearing from a well- 
known florist that it could be easily rooted from slips and used as a 
bedding-out plant, I made cuttings of the same, and when the plants 
were large enough and were shifted into 1 0-inch pots, I submerged 
them in the beds of my blue border. By this method I had bloom all 
summer, but shall try them out of pots next year, and think they will 
do better. In combination with Gladiolus (America) it makes an 
effect Mme. de Pompadour would have loved. 
Swainsonia is another tender plant which makes a charming 
garden effect. The foliage is fine and remains a fresh clean green all 
summer, and in my garden eight plants out of a dozen survived last 
winter with ordinary covering. The flowers, like clusters of small 
white sweet peas, are very useful for the table, and the plants seem to be 
ever blooming. It grows about iy 2 or 3 feet high and, as the cuttings 
root as easily as Geraniums, it should not be difficult to acquire a 
sufficient stock. 
"Bedding plants" is a term of reproach, certainly, calling to 
mind may atrocities, such as Cannas and Coleus, but there are spots 
in every garden which need covering and brightening as the seasons 
change. 
Zbc Best Soil for a flOiiet) Border 
From "THE GARDEN" 
A moderately light soil is suitable for the great majority of her- 
baceous plants. Lilies, some Iris and Lobelia Cardinalis are examples 
of those which need a strong soil to be satisfactory, but even these may 
