THE LADIES' FLORAL CABINET 
183 
to them. The “ ribbon border,” on the contrary, is al¬ 
ways the same, it presents no new feature daily, con¬ 
sequently the eye tires of the sameness there is in 
mechanical work and arrangements. 
When large masses of flowers are desired, we are not 
compelled to go beyond the herbaceous border; because 
all its occupants prefer to grow in large clumps, which 
gives the desired effect. 
A proportionate share of the border should be devoted 
to spring-flowering bulbs, and there is certainly no 
more beautiful masses of flowers than the many varie¬ 
ties of Narcissus, Crocus, Hyacinths and Tulip afford. 
By a skillful use of these, masses of the most brilliant 
colors, happily blended with white, give the border an 
effect that cannot be produced in any other way. When 
the beauty of these is passed, other forms are ready to 
take their places. 
All spring-flowering bulbs loose their foliage very soon 
after flowering, then, without disturbing the bulbs, 
annuals can be planted over them, which will furnish 
masses of bloom the entire summer. 
The advantages of this system of gardening will be 
limited or extended just as the materials used iu it are 
numerous or varied, or the reverse. It would certainly 
be no improvement on the massing system, were it car¬ 
ried out by means of the same plants used in it. But 
the mixed style admits of the employment of any 
judicious amount of variety, both of color and form, 
and every feature that constitutes individuality in 
plants, and the flowers of all seasons are indispensable 
also in the practice of it. Thus, spring, summer and 
autumn flower-gardening may be carried on in the 
same place; and the largest number of the subjects 
being both hardy and of perennial duration, an ex¬ 
tended enjoyment of flowers may be obtained at very 
little increase of labor and cost, even where it may be 
adopted as an adjunct to the massing system, or in any 
other way, as a relieving feature or department in the 
same establishment. 
No small feature in favor of the hardy border, is the 
financial one, as, at the start, the hardy herbaceous 
perennials do not cost but a trifle more than choice 
bedding-plants, and they never after have to be re¬ 
placed. Consequently the expense, annually is but 
trifling. It is obvious, therefore, that a resort to the 
mixed system, which may be carried on very effect¬ 
ively with hardy subjects, perennials and annuals 
combined, would be an advantage to the owner, 
in an economical point of view. Nor is the cost of the 
plants saved the only economy. The care of the gar¬ 
den is attended with much less expense of labor, a 
great item in our country where there are, relatively, 
but few gardeners employed. Possibly the much more 
numerous class of smaller gardens, whether in our 
towns or country, in which there are little or no appli¬ 
ances, and means of producing the annual supplies of 
bedding-plants, would benefit most by the adoption of 
the mixed style of planting. In these, adequate selec¬ 
tions of hardy perennials are generally as rare as in those 
that are better provided with the requisite resources for 
“bedding-out,” and they are consequently dependent for 
their supplies on the nurseryman or their more-favored 
neighbors, according to circumstances, and the result 
is, as can only be expected, unsatisfactory at all points. 
In our next, and following numbers, we will offer 
some suggestions on the arrangement of mixed 
borders, and shall also give the history, description 
and method of propagation and culture of the leading 
genera, species and varieties of herbaceous perennials, 
suitable for the ornamental flower-garden. 
OLD-FASHIONED HOUSE PLANTS. 
There are some plants that have been cultivated 
many years, that seem to be out of fashion. The 
Daphne odora was often seen twenty years ago as a 
window-plant; kept year after year until it seemed like 
part of the family ; rejoicing the eye and sense of smell 
for two or three months of winter; making no trouble, 
only requiring water when dry and an occasional bath. 
In the spring after blooming, repotted either in the 
same pot, or one size larger, and plunged in a partly 
shaded place out of doors for the summer. What can 
be more pleasing than its clean, glossy, evergreen foli¬ 
age ; its clusters of small, rosy-pink, sweet-scented 
flowers ? The only fault that can be found with it is, 
that its growth is apt to be straggling unless looked 
after. It should be pruned every year after blooming. 
It seems to like a moderately rich soil with good drain¬ 
age ; I keep a little mound of earth around the stem of 
mine, and water but little when not in active growth. 
It likes the coolest place in the window. 
The Laurestinus is a great favorite of mine. It is an 
evergreen shrub with pretty glossy leaves ; it blooms 
Ikie the Daphne at the ends of the branches ; flowers in 
clusters pure-white, the buds being tinged with pink. 
Each cluster lasts a long time ; they look a little like 
Elder blossoms. Mine blooms from November to Feb¬ 
ruary ; it does well with the same treatment that I 
give the Daphne. 
The Catalonian Jasmine is another of my favorites; 
it is a fine hard-wooded climber for the house; the 
foliage is pretty, and its pure-white flowers have a pleas¬ 
ant fragrance; with me it blooms from December to 
May. After it has done blooming I cut it back, repot 
and plunge the pot out of doors, keeping all buds picked 
off if any appear ; I take it in before the weather gets 
cold and put some fresh earth on the top of the pot. 
The Hoya, or wax-plant, is a, fine climbing plant for a 
warm room. It was introduced from Asia in 1802; so 
you see it has been long cultivated, but is not very com¬ 
mon. It comes from a warm country and is classed 
with hot-house plants ; yet it will grow in a south win¬ 
dow in a warm sitting-room, and do well. It is worth 
growing for its thick glossy foliage, and the flower is 
very curious and beautiful. My experience with it is, 
that it likes the heat, but no direct hot sun. I spoiled 
