Hardy Plants and the Modes of Arranging Them. 
The question of the expense of growing hardy flowers as compared with tender ones is important. The sacrifice of* 
flower gardens to plants that perish every year has left them so poor of all the nobler plants —has, in fact, caused the 
expenses of the garden to go to purposes which leave it at the end of every flowering season almost generally devoid of 
life. We here take into account the hothouses, the propagation of plants by thousands at certain seasons, the planting 
out at the busiest and fairest time of the year — in May or June — the no less 
necessary digging up and storing in autumn, the care in hot and cool structures 
in the winter, the liardening off, etc. The annual bill must not be forgotten. 
Now, expenditure should go toward permanent arrangement and planting, 
and that for the best possible reason — that very often the best things of our 
garden, a fine old Judas tree, or the Snowdrop tree, or a group of Thoms, or 
a mass of Clematis, did not really cost at first a sum that any one would 
grudge. Carry' the same idea further and think of the enormous number of 
lovely flowering shrubs there arc, as well as of hardy plants, and of the many 
tasteful ways in which we can arrange them. From the contemplation we get 
glimpses which open vistas of delight in our gardens. The best features of 
many places are those in which such permanent work has been carried out, 
notwithstanding the fact that all the so-called “ floral decoration ” for years 
past has prevented due attention being paid to such permanent artistic work. 
Examples of Arrangements not Requiring Annual Renewal.— 
Referring to the idea that as opposed to the usual way of planting the beds 
in May or early June and digging them up in October or November there is 
a much more enduring one, Mr. Thomson says: “The idea, too, that once 
these hardy plants are planted they will go on satisfactorily for many years 
without any further cultivation is one of the greatest delusions possible ; for, 
unless the soil in which they grow is kept in good order the whole thing is a 
complete failure, and the vigor and display of bloom ceases to be at its best.” 
This is a statement that admits of proof, and that the idea in question is no 
“delusion” any one can satisfy himself of. Perhaps the most astonishing 
effects from individual plants ever seen were Lilies (auratum) grown among 
his Rhododendrons. So far from frequent culture of such plants being 
necessary, it would be ruinous to them. The plant mentioned is not alone ; it 
represents scores of others 
equally beautiful which 
may be grown in the open 
air in the same simple 
way; and not Lilies alone, 
but many other noble 
flowers. A few years ago 
we saw nothing but round 
monotonous masses of 
Rhododendrons as soon 
as the flowers were past; 
now the idea of growing 
this bright-flowered ever¬ 
green shrub with the 
nobler bulbous and other 
hardy plants has spread 
throughout the world. It 
means more room for the 
individuals, greater and 
more natural beauty of 
form in consequence, more 
light and shade and 
grace ; mutual encourage- 
KOXGLOVES. (digitalis.) ment of shrub and plant; 
