September 13, 1888. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
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14th Sunday after Trinity. 
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ARRANGEMENT OF HARDY PL1NTS. 
TRIKING arrangements of tender plants for the 
adornment of our gardens during the summer 
months are frequently recorded ; in fact, every 
year the most telling beds and mixtures are 
minutely detailed for the edification of readers 
who desire to carry out this style of flower 
gardening; but methods of arranging beds of 
hardy plants and those that can be raised 
annually from seed without much trouble are 
seldom given. Hardy plants have long since been recom¬ 
mended for beds and borders. The advocates of this plan, 
although many times invited to do so, have failed to submit 
any reasonable plan how the plantd in various shaped bads 
can be suitably associated to make telling features in garden 
decoration. It will not, I think, be disputed that it is next 
to an impossibility to group these plants in the small 
peculiarly shaped geometrical flower gardens that surround 
many private mansions, or such as are formed in some of 
the public parks. These beds and flower gardens are not 
suitable for displaying the true character of hardy plants. 
For such beds the tallest growing perennials (some of which 
are amongst the most beautiful) are unsuitable, though many 
of the smaller growing Sedums, Saxifragas, and others are 
used with admirable effect in carpet and other beds. 
The ornamentation and interest of a garden depend in a 
large measure upon the variety of the trees, shrubs, and 
plants employed; in fact, the greater the diversity in the 
formation of the grounds themselves and the modes of 
ornament adopted (provided they are in keeping with sur¬ 
rounding objects), the more attractive and instructive is the 
garden. Gardens that are year by year decorated on the 
same principle become monotonous. There can be change 
and variety sufficient to meet the wish of the most fastidious 
even in the decoration of flower beds with tender plants, and 
I do not see why these should be either ignored or despised 
by persons who wish to push forward their own fads and 
fancies. If the most ardent supporters of hardy plants would 
spend a few days iu the public parks of London and observe 
the numbers that linger about the carpet beds, then notice 
how many in comparison stay to admire the borders of 
herbaceous plants, they could not fail to be impressed with 
the difference. 
I fail to see why any system of ornamenting gardens 
should be condemned for any other particular system. Those 
who “ pay the piper ” have a perfect right to “ choose the 
tune” if they desire to do so. But for the mere sake of 
change it is useless to condemn any system, and only a waste 
of time in attempting to do so. It certainly would not be 
so bad if those who tried to revolutionise flower gardening in 
this country laid down rules for the suitable grouping of 
hardy flowers, instead of condemning a system and offering 
in return no feasible alternative plan. The one mode is 
known to the public, the other is not, and even were they 
willing to follow the “ hardy plant men ” they are left to 
take their own course and arrange the plants iu their beds 
No. 32G. —Von. XIII., Third Series. 
as they think best. Failure and disappointment for several 
seasons is certain to be the result before an effective method 
of grouping hardy plants can be arrived at. In fact, I can 
go further and say however long they try they will not suc¬ 
ceed in rendering flower gardens innumerable as effective 
and enjoyable as they are made at present by the plan's 
known to the majority and cultivated for the purpose. There 
is ample room for both systems, and I shou'd be sorry to see 
the present style of flower gardening swept away. I admire 
hardy plants, and many of our gardens might be render d 
more beautiful by their judicious employment. 
Hardy plants have unquestionably advanced in favour 
during the past eight or ten years, though perhaps not in 
many of our largest gardens, to which we are apt to look for 
guidance. In town and suburban gardens the value of hardy 
plants for yielding flowers for cutting have been recognised, 
and no more profitable plants could be employed for the pur¬ 
pose. But cottagers more than any other class must bo 
credited for preserving these old favourite flowers. They 
have had no opportunity in many instances to change their 
plan of beautifying their little plots which they devote to 
flowers, but many persons who have had the chance have 
wandered away from this good old style for the tender plants 
that have filled the beds of our flower gardens for so many 
years. With this class and amateurs the rage for tender 
plants is fast dying out, and their place is being filled with 
a selection of the best and most showy hardy plants that 
answer the same purpose and are of a suitable nature for 
making “ posies ” for their friends or filling vases when they 
desire to cut them. For the neighbourhood of towns or in 
localities where the rainfall is considerably above the average, 
and the deposit of dew abundant, early in the season Pelar¬ 
goniums and other similar plants are of little value, for they 
give much trouble after July when they should be in their 
best. Instead of flowering profusely they make strong soft 
growth. Carpet beds are much more effective than these ; 
but as they fail to yield flowers for cutting, hardy planta muff 
find a place. 
The almost general plan of arranging hardy plants ha3 
been in borders on the “dotting system,” and this ha3 told 
somewhat against bringing them prominently into use for 
garden decoration. A mixed border, not of rubbish, but 
useful kinds, is perhaps the best, from which a supply of cut 
flowers can be obtained, for there is always something that 
is useful for the purpose. But at the same time there are 
always some plants “ going over,” and in consequence look 
shabby, which tells materially against this system of garden 
ornamentation when the surroundings are in good keeping. 
Gardens can be made very gay with a limited, selection of 
plants only. What I mean is to have a dozen or a hundred 
good Phloxes, the same number of plants of Anemone japonica 
red and white, and an equal number of Campanula persici- 
folia and its variety alba, in preference to growing all the 
species of these plants obtainable. 
Hardy plants are highly effective amongst shrub3 if some 
such plan as the following is adopted—for instance, Del¬ 
phiniums of light or dark varieties, according to the nature 
of the shiubs, planted not too thickly, and intermixed with 
Lilium candidum, L. testaceum, and L. tigrinum. The first 
will be over by the time the first or second named Lilies come 
into flower, and these will be succeeded by the last named. 
The Delphiniums, if cut down directly the flowers fade, will 
commence flowering again by thetime the Lilieshave withered. 
Towards the front Gladiolus Colvilli and G. Colvilli the Bride, 
if planted in October,will flower early in the season. Amongst 
these can be planted Asters for late flowering. For early 
flowering in the year Anemones, Narcissus, and various other 
plants may be employed. 
The following examples will illustrate how hardy plants 
may be arranged to prove effective from the end of July until 
cut off by frost, and earlier flowering kinds can be grouped in 
a similar manner. TI 19 arrangements that will b 1 given may 
No. 1982 — Vol. LXXY„ Odd Series 
