September's^, 1905.] 
MOTTO FOR THE WEEK 
Colours are the smiles of Nature . . . her laughs, as in the flowers .”—Leigh Hunt. 
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AN AMATEUR'S LETTER 
TO AMATEURS. 
By the author of “ The Garden Decorative 
etc., etc. 
VI. 
Hints for Autumn Planting. 
Last week I mentioned a few of tke very 
l>est summer-flowering perennials, and to¬ 
day, as there is no work more engrossing 
than the deciding of what shall furnish our 
borders for another season, I think I cannot 
do better than add to the list already given. 
So much depends on the character of the 
plants selected to fill the mixed borders that 
it seems a thousand pities to fill them with 
plants of but brief duration, or those of a 
coarse and weedy type; especially when 
there are so many excellent and beautiful 
plants to be had at no great expense. 
There is, too, or there should be, a feeling of 
satisfaction to number at least a certain 
proportion of plants that are of rarer growth 
than the familiar things seen in nine cut of 
ten gardens up and down the land. The 
very last post is witness that this feeling is 
widespread, for a letter from an unknown 
correspondent writing in reference to an 
article of mine in a contemporary says : “I 
wanted the hardy plants you named in- 
as I like uncommon plants that are not always 
grown.” 
Michauxias. 
In Michauxia campanuloides we have one 
of the most artistic plants our gardens can 
contain, and at the same time nothing could 
be of easier culture. It does not matter 
with what other plants this Michauxia is 
associated, it stands out as a beautiful and 
distinct type of flower. It is, indeed, a very 
rare form in the floral world, and at the 
same time the veriest novice may grow it. 
The plant is of biennial habit, so that it is 
too late to sow the seed to secure flowering 
plants for next season, but when the 
border is ready to receive them plants 
may be secured for a few pence. And so 
characteristic is the plant that it is wonder¬ 
fully effective when used as single specimens. 
I find it does best on well-drained soil, and 
in a thoroughly open position, and for this 
rea'on I have it in my rock garden, where 
it gets an occasional thorough soaking if the 
drought is very distressing, and otherwise 
no further attention. For weeks it is 
covered with numerous white blossoms, with 
petals sharply reflexed like those of Martagon 
Lily. This plant is no novelty'in England, 
and yet no one who has seen my plant 
knows it, or has even heard of it. The 
Michauxia is of the great family of the 
Campanulas, and not even the handsome C. 
pyramidalis is more effective and decorative. 
Although always described as of biennial 
growth, it is scarcely a true biennial, as I 
find it frequently lives and flowers, at any 
rate, two or three times. Those who would 
rather sow seed than buy plants may do so 
at the present time if they will be content 
to forego all hope of flowers next year, but 
wish to possess themselves of grand 
specimens for the season following. This 
is often my own method of growing the 
plants, and the result is certainly satisfactory. 
I should add I give the little seedling plants 
the protection of a cold house for the first 
winter, plant out into a spare border in the 
spring, and transplant to their flowering 
quarters in the following autumn. It 
sounds troublesome, but it is not so in 
re ility. Another plan is to sow seed in the 
early spring, which produces flowering 
plants the following year. There are only 
two varieties of Michauxia, the one I have 
named, and a second and later introduction 
M. Tchihatchewii, which is likewise an 
extremely interesting plant, somewhat 
dwarfer in growth, though attaining at least 
three feet in height, and also bearing white 
flowers. 
N 
Viola Rose Queen. 
The Viola is invaluable in every garden, 
and it should always have attention during 
autumn operations. All keen lovers of these 
flowers will have sown seed during August 
to yield a supply for early flowering next 
season. Autumn sown Violas are quite 
twice as long flowered as the spring-sown 
plants. Those, then, who have young 
seedlings, or who may purchase seedling 
plants, may get them into position as soon 
as the space may be clear. For effect there 
is nothing to compete with the self-coloured 
varieties. There is one, not particularly 
new, that is wonderfully telling, 1 mean Rose 
Queen, of a shade that is difficult to describe 
other than as a rosy heliotrope shade. I 
know a garden that is made beautiful for 
months by a long edging of bright yellow 
Violas, some such variety as Golden Queen 
might be recommended, and this long wind¬ 
ing ribbon of brilliant golden yellow is 
backed by a row of some deep rich purple 
variety. The bed beyond is planted for the 
most part with plants that flower more or 
less in the late summer and autumn, and it 
would be rather lacking in colour and bright¬ 
ness through the late spring and early 
summer if this brilliant and intense colour 
ing of the Violas were not there. But as it 
is, they take the eye, and hold it, so that 
one is hardly aware of the colourlessness 
behind them; then, as the Violas pass, the 
Hollyhocks and Phloxes, the Gaillardias, and 
Dahlias have their day. Such a planting 
always strikes me as wonderfully suggestive 
of the thought and study that have called it 
into being. Next best to establishing 
seedling plants in the autumn garden is to 
take up the old plants, cut off all old growth, 
and then divide the young growth. 
Probably one plant will make half a dozen, 
for four or five sturdy young shoots are 
ample for each. A good deal of the old root 
may also be removed, and the divided por¬ 
tions should be l’ather deeply planted. 
For Late Summer Flowering. 
To flower together during the late 
summer a grand display may be made with 
Hollyhocks of a certain brilliant rose pink; 
and below them the equally bright toned 
Phlox decussata. A rather moist, rich soil, 
and an aspect where the sun reaches only for 
a few hours a day suits both plants, and we 
may, if we will, combine with them, to make 
a dainty contrast, either white varieties of 
these same plants, or, if we desire a greater 
variety, then other kinds, such as white 
chimney Campanulas, white Sweet Peas, Ane¬ 
mone. japonica, Hyacinthus Candicans, and 
many more that flower at the same time. In 
many gardens it is convenient to have a 
border comingto its climax of beau'y no 
