HOUSE AND GARDEN 
October, i 
9 i 1 
223 
Gaillardia grandiflora is 
among the showiest of 
summer blooms 
Dianthus plumarius, beside 
its spicy June bloom, is 
attractive for its foliage 
Lilium speciosum, both pink 
and white, is one of the 
most dependable bulbs 
Larkspur will flourish in any garden, but 
good rich soil and no disturbance accom¬ 
plish best results. The blue perennial vari¬ 
eties appear in June 
beauty, recommend 
it generally, how¬ 
ever. The plants 
bloom freely. They 
increase so rapidly 
that after the second year they should be separated into as many 
parts as there are crowns. Separate with a sidewise pull in order 
to avoid tearing the tangled roots. 
The old-fashioned bleeding heart (Dielytra spcctabilis ) loses 
its foliage in midsummer and is dormant in fall. If planted then 
the shoots will be stronger the first spring. Another point in 
favor of fall planting is the fact that bleeding heart roots, unless 
potted, are dug up by nurserymen and stored for the winter, not 
because they are not hardy, but for the reason that they make 
such an early start. This causes early sprouting, and as the 
shoots are very brittle they are apt to break and injure the plant's 
immediate efficiency. The bleeding heart is one of the perennials 
that should be let alone for years. It is also one that does well 
in partial shade. A small plant will have a leaf-spread of more 
than three feet across in a few years, so it is best to give it 
plenty of room and utilize the space around it for snowdrops, 
scilla, chionodoxa, crocus or other early spring bulbs. Don't be 
discouraged by your first sight of a root of bleeding heart; it 
looks hopeless, but wonders will come of it with proper care. 
A more satisfying peren¬ 
nial than the ordinary Iris 
Germanica would be difficult 
to find. The blossoms are 
not only glorious in their 
color tones, but are exquisite¬ 
ly beautiful in form and give 
the garden a unique touch as 
they lift their heads above 
their sword leaves—which 
alone are fine enough to com¬ 
mend the German iris to all. 
Nothing could be easier to 
grow. Just plant it in ordi¬ 
nary garden soil and if in a 
few years the rhizomes seem 
to be too crowded, separate 
them. One comforting fact 
about the German iris is that 
the most ordinary kinds, and 
therefore the easiest to get, 
cannot be improved upon. The blossoms of the arabis coming 
None of the most modern April soon form a carpet of white 
varieties, for example, is better than the violet species with purple 
falls. Nor is any superior to that other old-fashioned flower-de- 
luce that is so faintly suffused with blue as to take on a sort of 
pearl color. The latter, I take it, is properly I. Florentina, but is 
generally listed under the head of German iris. Three other 
admirable varieties are Mrs. H. Darwin, white, the falls veined 
with maroon; Mme. Chereau, whitish, the edges of the petals 
feathered with blue, and I. pallida Dalmatica, a delicate blue iris 
of the Germanica type. 
Time was when the grass, or June pinks (Dianthus plumarius ) 
were in almost every garden; more particularly the double ones, 
white or pale pink. These two remain the best, though there are 
I like them 
(Continued on page 255) 
other good double ones and no end of single ones. 
Primula veris superba is fully entitled to the adjective superb. 
It has pale yellow blossoms, with orange centers 
