July 14, 1881. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
25 
14th 
Th 
The National Rose Show, Sheffield. Chiswick Horticultural 
15th 
F 
Gtalloway Rose Show. [Show. 
16th 
s 
Wirral Rose Show, Alexandra Palace Gooseberry Show, aud 
17th 
SUN 
6th SUNDAY AFTER Trinity. [West Kent Show. 
18th 
M 
19 th 
TU 
Carnation and Picotee Show, Kensington. 
20th 
W 
HERBACEOUS AND ALPINE PLANTS. 
UR purpose in penning these remarks is to assist 
readers in selecting the choicest and best 
species and varieties obtainable. The mistake 
hitherto made by many amateurs has been in 
their planting any and every species they could 
'Y obtain simply because it was fresh. By this 
' system the borders became crowded with a host 
of plants producing inconspicuous flowers, whence, 
instead of a bright and continuous display, disappoint¬ 
ment is the only return. The employment of hardy 
plants in the flower borders and the shrubbery borders has in¬ 
creased during the past few years, and if a judicious selection 
is made from the immense numbers of plants now obtainable 
the fashion must become, and remain, popular, because a beau¬ 
tiful display may be maintained almost throughout the season, 
from which flowers for vases, for table de coration, bouquets, and 
buttonholes may be constantly gathered without the slightest 
injury to the plants. These results are, moreover, obtainable 
with comparatively small cost, even by those having nothing 
but an ordinary villa garden and without any glass structure. 
In the cultivation of perennials soil is of the first import¬ 
ance, and for many of the choice alpine kinds situation also 
must be studied. In the first place the borders must be well 
drained, and if the natural soil is poor and exhausted it should 
be removed or incorporated with some rich and fertile material. 
The best we consider is a combination of loam, leaf soil, and 
well-decomposed manure, to which the admixture of some 
sharp river sand or the grit from road sweepings will be of 
great assistance. There are many peat-loving plants, but the 
soil just named will be found the best for a general foundation. 
Those plants requiring peat or limestone grit can easily be ac¬ 
commodated with their peculiar wants at the time of planting. 
In gardens of sufficient size a well-made rockery is a most 
interesting addition, but in small gardens the attempt should 
not be made, for we have never seen good results in such 
places ; besides, it is really unnecessary, there being a great 
number of hardy alpine plants that may be grown in clumps in 
the borders with ease, especially if a few pieces of rock or 
large stones are laid round them. But where space will permit 
the rock garden when properly constructed is a never-failing 
source of pleasure ; indeed many an old wall may be readily 
converted into a lovely rock garden by the judicious plant¬ 
ing of Sempervivums, Sedums, Saxifragas, Aubrietias, Wall¬ 
flowers, Drabas, and similar plants. If a situation is to be 
selected for the construction of rockwork, choose a place in 
which the alpine plants when in their positions shall be sheltered 
or screened from the morning sun during summer. A mistake 
is frequently made by amateurs respecting the supply of 
water to alpines. Many people imagine because these plants 
often grow on and amongst bare rocks and stones, that little 
or no water is necessary to their existence ; nothing, however, 
is more erroneous, for alpines are thirsty plants and during the 
summer months should be watered liberally. The rockery 
should not be made to display itself, but should be so con¬ 
structed that every nook and every ledge should form a resting 
place for some particular form of vegetation to grow upon or 
trail over, while at the base sundry nooks may be converted 
into bogs for the accommodation of such plants that require 
this particular care, and if a small pool of water is available 
there are numerous aquatics which will amply repay for the 
very little care they require. 
In planting the herbaceous borders strict attention is neces¬ 
sary in the arrangement according to the natural heights, and 
in placing the plants so that they are not in straight rows from 
front to back, and so to intermix the plants that all the year 
round the border shall be gay. Deciduous and evergreen 
kinds should also be carefully interspersed in order that a 
general effect may be produced. The dvvarfer kinds which 
will be front-row plants should be slightly elevated, and, as 
before remarked, have some good-sized pieces of rock placed 
round them, as this keeps the crown of the plants from decaying 
in winter. Thus treated they will soon form beautiful clumps. 
In the matter of colour our readers will scarcely need remind¬ 
ing that two shades of the same colour should not come to¬ 
gether. Some mistakes and failures are sure to be made the 
first year, but these must be carefully noted and remedied in 
autumn. The latter plants, or, indeed, the dwarf kinds also 
where they require it, must be carefully staked and tied to 
keep the borders orderly and to prevent the shoots being 
broken down by wind or rain ; but by no means be lavish with 
artificial supports, for the less they are used the more natural 
everything appears. Where seeds are not required pick off 
the capsules as soon as the flowers fade, and if seeds are to be 
saved thin-out the capsules to prevent undue exhaustion of the 
plants. When the seed is ripe sow it at once. We prefer 
this plan to the one usually adopted of storing it until the 
following spring. 
A few words respecting the manner of keeping the flower 
borders may not be out of place. All the year round weeds 
must be kept down ; especially during the summer months must 
the hoe and rake be employed, but it is in the late-autumn 
treatment in our opinion lies the secret of success or failure in 
the cultivation of herbaceous plants. In the majority of 
gardens the plants are cut back and the borders dug over so 
as to make all neat by Christmas. This digging or turning-in, 
as the operation is technically called, is the great fault com¬ 
mitted by those who do not study their plants. We do not 
believe in digging flower borders periodically. Let the leaves 
fall upon in autumn, and take a few barrowloads of good soil 
and sprinkle over them ; this will make everything look clean 
and presentable, will retain the natural manuring in the shape 
of decomposed leaves which plants so much like, and will 
recompense for the loss in bulk which arises during summer 
through carrying off the rakings from the borders. This simple 
but beneficial plan has another virtue, inasmuoh as borders 
thus treated may have numberless bulbous plants interspersed, 
and these will throw up their charming flowers in many 
NO. 58.— Yon. in., THIRD Bebie*. 
k*. if it.—Von. lxvt., Ole Seiue|, 
