THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, August 2, 1859. 
257 
thick of the most fibry on the top between the rows, give one 
good watering, then go to Italy or to grouse shooting, so you be 
home in time before the frost.—D. Beaton. 
HARDY HERBACEOUS PLANTS. 
As several correspondents have asked for information about 
these “ old-fashioned border flowers,” and as we are always de¬ 
sirous to meet the requirements of our readers on every subject, 
I purpose to write a few papers on the management of this 
interesting and useful class of flowering plants. There seems to 
be a reaction in their favour. Though the bedding-out system 
is certainly exceedingly beautiful when properly carried out, yet 
its warmest advocates must confess that the seuson, when the plants 
arranged in this modern mode are in perfection, is but a short 
one, certainly not more than three months—that is, from August 
to October ; whereas, the season for herbaceous plants, judiciously 
planted, will extend from April to tho end of October. 
I propose to coniine my remarks to such of them as are really 
worth growing and of easy culture, including any new kinds that 
have tho same character. Hardy herbaceous bulbs and alpine 
plants, such as arc suitable to plant on rockwork, I shall refer to 
hereafter. 
Borders may bo so planted with herbaceous plants that there 
will be flowers blooming throughout spring, summer, and autumn. 
After the list I am about to compile is complete, I will endeavour 
to demonstrate how such a show of bloom may be accomplished. 
Whoever possesses a border well filled with good herbaceous 
plants will always be pleased therewith ; and such a collection of 
plants is kept in order with much less care and trouble than the 
plants used in the modem mode of furnishing a flower garden in 
t he (as it is called) bedding-out system. The labour necessary to 
keep up a stock of plants to fill the beds is immense. It is only in 
large places—such as the Crystal Palace, Worsely Hall, Putteridge- 
bury, Trentham, Shrubland, Enville Hall, and such like, where 
means are provided liberally—that the bedding-out mode can be 
carried out to perfection. Smaller places—the amateur’s garden 
and the cottager’s border—may well be content with cultivating 
the herbaceous plants I am about to describe. I shall adopt the 
alphabetical arrangement in my list as being the most easily 
referred to, and filled up as new plants or varieties of plants are 
introduced or raised. 
ACHILLEA —Milfoil. 
Achillea aurea (golden Milfoil). 6 in. Yellow. June. Levant. 
A. ptarmica floee-pleno (double-white Milfoil). 1ft. August. 
A. tohentosa (woolly). 2 ft. Yellow. July. Great Britain. 
The Milfoils are a numerous tribe. Excepting the above-named 
the rest are little better than weeds. 
Propagated by dividing the plants in April. They will grow 
in any soil not too wet. 
ACONITUM—Aconite. 
TUliEROUS-ROOTED SPECIES. 
Aconitum amcenum (pleasing). 4 ft. Blue. June. South of 
Europe. 
A. biflorum (two-flowered). 6 in. Pale blue. June. Siberia. 
A. foemosum (handsome). 4 ft. Blue. June. S. of Europe. 
A. geacile (slender). 2 ft. Blue. July. Switzerland. 
A. Japonicum ccebuleum (blue, Japan). 4 ft. Blue. July. 
J apan. 
A. natellus (Monkshood). 4 ft. Blue. June. S. of Europe. 
A. Ottonianum (Otto’s). 4ft. Blue. June. S. of Europe. 
A. eigidum grandifloeum (large-flowered, rigid). 3 ft. Blue. 
June. Gardens. 
A. venustum (beautiful). 3 ft. Blue. June. Switzerland. 
FIBROUS-ROOTED SrECIES. 
Aconitum Anthoea. lift. Yellow. July. Pyrenees. 
A. autumnale (autumn). 11 ft. Blush white. September. 
N. China. 
A. barbatum (bearded). 2 ft. Yellow. June. Siberia. 
A. Chinense (Chinese). 4 ft. Blue. September. China. 
A. Jaquinii (Jaquin’s). lift. Yellow. June. Austria. 
A. lycoctonum (Wolf’s-bane). 3 ft. Purple. July. Alps of 
Europe. 
A. Pyeenaicum (Pyrenean). 4 ft. Yellow. June. Pyrenees. 
A. versicolor (various-coloured). Blue and white. Aug. Siberia. 
A free-fiowering, showy tribe. There are more than a hundred 
species registered; but, probably, not half that number in actual 
cultivation. A. napellus is rather dangerous if the leaves or 
flowers are eaten. The young leaves have been mistaken for 
Parsley ; but very common prudence will prevent any such un¬ 
happy mistakes. 
Propagated by taking up the plants as soon as they have done 
flowering, and dividing them in two or more divisions—taking 
care that each division has plenty of roots. Plant them imme¬ 
diately in a moderately dry and well-manured loamy soil in an 
open situation. 
ADENOPHORA. 
Adenophoea suaveolens (sweet-scented Adenopliora). 2 ft. 
Blue. June. Siberia. 
A. denticulata (toothed). 1ft. Blue. July. Siberia. 
A. Lamaekiana (Lamark’s). 2 ft. Blue. July. Siberia. 
A. mabsupieloea (purse-flowered). 2 ft. Blue. July. Russia, 
A. reticulata (netted). 2 ft. Blue. July. Siberia. 
A. yeeticillata (whorled-leaved). 2 ft. Blue. June. Siberia. 
A neat-habited tribe, of easy culture, and very hardy. Propa¬ 
gated by dividing the plant in April; replanting immediately in 
a rich, dry, light, sandy soil, fully exposed. 
AGATHYESUS. 
Agatuyesus cyaneus (deep-blue Agathyrsus). 2 ft. June 
Nepaul. 
A. Lapponicus (Lapland). G ft. Blue. July. N. America. 
A. Sibeeicus (Siberian), 2 ft. Blue. August. Pyrenees. 
A. Tatabicus (Tartarian). 4 ft. Blue. August. Siberia. 
A genus of Aster-like plants, with dense spikes of handsome 
flowers. Propagated by taking up the plants in April, cutting 
them into divisions with roots to each division, planting them 
immediately in rich loamy soil in the open border where they are 
to bloom. Some produce seeds plentifully. These should be 
gathered when ripe, and sown in May in light soil; and, when 
large enough, the seedlings transplanted in patches of threes into 
the herbaceous borders. 
AGROSTEMMA— Rose Cajimon. 
Agrostemma Bunge ana (Dr. Bunge’s Rose Campion). 1 ft. 
Scarlet. July. Russia. 
A. decumbens (bended). 1ft. Crimson. July. S. of Europe. 
A. Pybenaica (Pyrenean). 1 ft. Pale rose. June. Pyrenees. 
A. Suecica (Swedish). 11- ft. Pink. August. Sweden. 
These pretty dwarf plants require frequent division to keep them 
from damping off. Propagated by seeds and division of the roots. 
Sow the seeds in light sandy soil, thinly covered, in June; and 
transplant the seedlings when very young in patches of three or five, 
in peat and loam mixed. If seeds cannot be procured, propagate 
by side-shoots in May, planted on a shady border in sand, trans¬ 
planting them as soon as rooted into dry sandy loam on an open 
border. The leaves are very woolly: hence they hold moisture, 
and arc apt to perish in long-continued damp autumn weather: 
hence it is advisable to keep a few in pots, and place them under 
the shelter of a cold pit or frame in wet weather. 
AJUGA— Bugle. 
A juga australis (southern). 1ft, Blue. July. New Holland. 
A. Geneyensis (Genevan). 1 ft. Elesh-colourcd. July. Swit¬ 
zerland. 
A. in teg ei folia (entire-leaved). 1 ft. Blue. June. Nepaul. 
A. pyramidalis (pyramidal). 6 in. Blue. May. Britain. 
A. EUBEA (red-flowered). 1 ft. May. Britain. 
A. „ yaeiegata (striped-leaved). 1 ft. Blue. April. 
Gardens. 
Propagated by cutting each plant in two or more divisions as 
booh as they have done flowering. Renew tho soil with a compost 
of loam, sandy peat, and leaf mould previous to replanting. If 
the peat is scarce it may be dispensed with, adding plenty of sand 
in its place. As they are mostly mountain plants, they should be 
grown fully exposed on a dry subsoil. Yery pretty, low-growing, 
hardy plants. 
ALBTROMERIA. 
Alsteomeeia aueea (golden Alstromeria). 2 ft. Orange. June 
Chili. 
A. HCEMANTHA (blood-coloured). 2 ft. Crimson. July. Chili. 
A. Hookebiana (Dr. Hooker’s). 3 ft. Pink. June. Chili. 
A. PELEGBINA (spotted-flowered). 1 ft. Striped. July. Chili. 
A. psittacina (parrot-like). 2 ft. Crimson. September. Brazil. 
A. pulchba (fair). 1) ft. Various coloured. June. Chili. 
A. Simsii (Sims’s). 3 ft. Scarlet. June. Chili. 
Though the Alstrbmerias me from warm climates, yet they are 
