58 
HERBACEOUS GARDEN 
a herbaceous border, and whose friends all 
promised them hampers when dividing time 
came round. The hampers arrived, but each 
was filled with London Pride ! 
However, this is a rare case. 
Generally one can count on collecting from 
friends a valuable, if miscellaneous, assortment 
of plants ; and unless the garden is newly made, 
you are certain to find in it some perennials 
already established, with which to make a 
start. Prices vary in different parts of the 
country, but in one or two good nurseries 
within five miles of my home I find that the 
prices of perennials range from 6d. to is. A 
great many, in fact most of them, are 6d., and 
in a very few instances, such as the newest 
delphinium, they may go up to 2s. or 2s. 6d. 
But these newest varieties are, first of all, un- 
proved, as a rule ; and, secondly, are no better, 
to the beginner’s eye, than the older ones at 6d. 
and is. So that, taking an average, one can 
count on getting quite 1 50 clumps for one’s 
JT$ order. Often a special offer at reduced 
prices from some overstocked nursery means 
that good plants can be bought for 3s. 6d. a 
dozen. I have a list from one of our best 
hardy-plant nurseries offering such good things 
as Anemone Whirlwind, erigerons, heleniums, 
