194 
THE FLOWER GARDEN. 
position to do well, and they should be planted 8 to i2in. apart. 
On light soils mulch with rotten manure after planting, and 
see they have plenty of water in dry weather, with an occa- 
sional application of weak liquid manure. Although best 
reared in heat, very good results may be obtained by sowing 
the seeds outdoors in April, and afterwards thinning out the 
seedlings. 
The herbaceous perennials consist of two groups, one 
known as the early or summer-flowering type, and the other 
late or autumn-flowering section. The former are derived 
from P. suffruticosa, and flower in June and July. They are 
of bushy habit and free-flowering. The late-flowering type 
are derived from crosses between P. paniculata and P. macu- 
lata, are vigorous growers and free bloomers, flowering from 
July to October. Really they are superior in beauty to the 
early-flowering type, and their value is greatly enhanced on 
account of flowering late in the season. Both sections thrive 
best in partial shade, and require a deep, rich loamy soil, well- 
drained. Before planting, trench the soil 3ft. deep and mix 
plenty of well-rotted manure with it. Heavy soils should have 
plenty of grit and leaf mould added also. In light, poor, 
hungry soils phloxes make a miserable stunted growth and 
yield weakly trusses of blossoms. Plant in autumn or early 
spring, 2ft. or so apart. In dry weather water copiously and 
feed occasionally with weak liquid manure. In April mulch 
the surface of the soil heavily with rotten manure. Directly 
the flowers fade remove the spent blooms, then a second crop 
of flowers will be borne on the earlier-flowered plants. Each 
spring, as soon as the shoots are a few inches high, remove 
the weakest, then much stronger growth will be obtained as 
well as larger trusses of flowers. Some of the varieties may 
require to be supported by stakes. The following is a selection 
of the early-flowering varieties : Agnes, white, suffused crim- 
son ; Attraction, snowy white, crimson eye ; Excellence, rosy- 
magenta, crimson eye ; Harry Veitch, creamv-white, pink eye ; 
Cybele, silvery-lilac ; Magnificence, rosy-pink, crimson eye ; 
Mrs. Browning, rosy-pink ; James Robertson, lilac, shaded 
purple; Isaac House, satiny pink; Shakespeare, magenta, 
edged white; Lady Napier, pure white; and The Queen, soft 
pink. Late or autumn-flowering varieties ; Coccinea, scarlet ; 
Coquelicot, orange-scarlet and purple ; Eclaireur, carmine, 
rosy-salmon centre ; Francois de Neufchateau, greyish-rose, 
purple eye ; Pandore, carmine-lake, white centre ; Miss Pem- 
berton, salmon-rose and carmine ; Boule de Niege, pure white; 
Thomas Swanston, crimson ; Elizabeth Campbell, salmon-pink ; 
Papillon, bluish-lilac; Flambeau, red and orange; and Talma, 
magenta. 
