April 1, 1905. 
THE QaRUEHINQ WORLD, 
257 
i builder whose only aim is appearance. I would always 
idvocate the ground covered with about 1 in. or 2 in. of 
'advocate wag . . , , , , •,* > s . 
islies or coke breeze. It it is desirable to keep ones feet 
drv when walking through the houses, a simple trellis will 
I uo r d all that is necessary, or iron gratings will give more 
H. J. Chapman. 
permanency. _ 
Hardy Herbaceous Border. 
The warm, sunny weather which we have experienced duiing 
the past, week has, after the heavy rains previously, caused 
many herbaceous plants to grow away freely, and borders of 
these are now becoming absorbingly interesting to those who 
have a love for this department of horticulture. There is no 
doubt that the formation and cultivation of collections of 
hardy perennials is annually becoming more popular, and 
where they are well grown there is nothing of more interest or 
more beautiful, but it is a surprising fact to many that the 
lisin^ generation of gardeners do not attempt to become more 
conversant with or obtain a fuller knowledge of their require¬ 
ments and uses. Without wishing to deride the value of a 
knowledge of plants, etc., grown under glass, it is not too much 
to say that a thorough acquaintance with hardy plants, trees 
and shrubs and the like grown outside is, at the present time, 
equally if not more valuable, and will be a greater desideratum 
when their value becomes more fully appreciated. 
Perennial Phloxes. —The young shoots of these are now of 
good length, and with both the early and late-flowering 
varieties it will be necessary to thin out the weakest growths 
ou the older clumps if the best results are to be obtained. 
These should be cut off close to the stool, and with the better 
varieties a few ashes, sifted fine, should be placed round. Any 
which were divided and potted up in the autumn can now be 
planted out, and if the soil is not very good, a little fresh soil 
should be given, as these respond well to liberal treatment, 
and the spines will be much finer. Where seedlings have been 
raised these should be planted out after they have been 
thoroughly hardened, and where these are grown in quantity 
with the aim of raising new varieties, an open piece of ground 
which has been well prepared should be selected. A distance 
of 1 ft. apart all ways will be sufficient, and the best colours 
can then be easily selected. 
Pentstemons. — For bedding purposes these are rapidly be¬ 
coming more popular, and I know of no plants which are better 
suited for the purpose or produce a more pleasing display of 
bloom through the whole of the summer and autumn. By 
far the best results are obtained by growing them in a good- 
sized border by themselves, but whether treated in this way 
or interspersed in batches among other plants in the mixed 
borders, they can now be transferred to their flowering quarters 
if the weather is suitable. Should cold winds prevail it is 
much better to leave the planting till a mild spell, as any 
check in a young state is most detrimental. A suitable dis¬ 
tance bo plant apart will be 18 in. each way, and the points of 
the leading shoot should be pinched out so that they will 
break freely and make good bushy plants. If one wishes to 
obtain extra long spikes for exhibition purposes, the central 
growth must be left and all the side shoots picked out. If it 
is intended to grow any in pots, these should now be potted 
into 32’s, and a mixture of three parts loam, one part leaf- 
soil, with a good dash of sharp sand will be suitable. The 
pots should be thoroughly clean and well drained. 
Hollyhocks. — By far the best way is to grow these as 
annuals, and those which were sown early in the new year and 
potted off when large enough should now be of sufficient size 
for planting out. These like liberal treatment, and whether 
grown m a border or separately the ground should have been 
well prepared. A few fine ashes should be placed round each 
plant, and a thorough mulching given of rotten cow manure a 
little later on. 
Summer-flowering Chrysanthemums.—Few plants are more 
useful than these in the flower garden, and they are worthy of 
more extended culture than at present. For bedding pur¬ 
poses they are very valuable, and when grown in a separate 
border, few subjects present a mole pica ing appeal a: 
throughout the summer and autumn. They can nov 
planted where they are to flower, and the tip of th< 
should he pinched out so that they break fro ly. A 1 . 
dusting of soot over the foliage in showery weather will pm 
most beneficial to them. A. E. Thatcher. 
Aldenham House Gardens, Elstree. 
The Flower Garden. 
Half-hardy Annuals.-—This class of plants plays an im¬ 
portant part in'providing a summer display in many gardens, 
and, indeed, with half-hardy annuals alone a very tine show 
might be had throughout the seasons. Stocks, Asters, Zin¬ 
nias, etc., are in geiferal use everywhere, and need not be dwelt 
on here. There are, however, a number of plants of this class 
not generally met with in private gardens, and which possess 
qualities which render them useful in various ways. 
Atriplex hortensis rubra, a reddish-purple leaved variety of 
the Mountain Spinach, may be used as a foliage plant in large 
beds or the mixed border; it will attain a height of 4 ft. or 
5 ft., and when planted fairly close is effective for a consider¬ 
able time. Cosmos bipinnatus, native of Mexico, is perhaps 
more often seen, and is useful for subtropical work. It grows 
quite as tall as the former and, producing finely divided leaves, 
the whole plant is light and elegant in appearance. The 
leaves are green and the flowers light purple. Polygonum 
orientale, from the tropics of the old world, also attains a 
height of 5 ft. or more, and produces drooping spikes of 
crimson flowers which are highly ornamental throughout the 
summer. There is a white variety, but it lacks the decorative 
value of the type. Polygonum capitatum from the Himalayas 
is very different to the preceding species; the stems scarcely 
rise from the ground, and produce numerous small green leaves 
with brown markings. The flowers are pink and produced in 
heads on stalks about 6 in. long; it is a useful plant for an 
edging or carpet to taller subjects. 
Lobelia tenuior, from Australia, is distinct in habit from 
other Lobelias grown in the flower garden, being more often 
seen as a greenhouse plant. It is quite successful, however, as 
an outdoor subject, and makes a nice show in summer. The 
whole plant grows' about a foot or 15 in. high, and produces 
abundance of dark blue flowers. Lobelia ramosa is somewhat 
similar to the former, but the flowers are scarcely so laige, 
and the plant is of stiffer habit. 
Diascea Barberae, a low-growing plant, has pink flowers, 
with two curious spurs produced at the base of the flower, 
which render it interesting as well as being extremely pretty. 
Schizanthus retusus, largely grown for the greenhouse, is 
equally as useful outside, and in some places is sown where 
required to bloom. Treated as a half-hardy annual, and 
planted out in June, success is assured. 
Many other subjects might be mentioned, but the above give 
some indication of the enormous number of plants at the com¬ 
mand of present-day gardeners. ^ • *• 
Berberis japonica. 
As a winter-flowering shrub this is a real treasure, being .. 
plant of sturdy, upright habit, pleasing foliage, and lovely 
in colour, form, and fragrance of bloom. The leaves, which are 
large, are of a clear glossy green, and are furnished with long 
sharp spines. The long racemes of flowers are arranged in a 
radiating crown above the foliage, and are of a clear canary 
yellow, which at this season of the year (early February) are 
extremely valuable, serving as they do to brighten the 
shrubbery at a time when colour is most needed. Added to 
these charms is that of a delightful fragrance, so that to every 
owner of a garden, be it large or small, this Berberis should 
be considered quite indispensable, while those who have space 
at command should certainly plant masses in suitable places 
that will assuredly constitute a most attractive feature of the 
place. It is .also known as B. Bealei. Heather Bell. 
