H ouse and Garden 
THE LODGE ON A SLIGHT RISE OF GROUND 
The garden-borders along the walks have been 
arranged with a regard to the tasteful mixture of 
leaf-forms, just irregular enough to blend pleasantly 
into the surroundings. Healthy selected plants for 
this purpose should be set in the earth as soon as 
received. The leek known as “hen and chickens” 
is used as a firm edge to keep the border from break¬ 
ing away. Back of these grow the purple-crowned 
Funkias, known as day-lilies in olden times. These 
do not belong to the genus Lilium, but are placed by 
botanists under the genus Hemerocallis. They are 
native to Europe and Asia, and have probably been 
in cultivation in this country ever since the first 
flower gardens. In the rear of the day-lilies are 
abundant plants of phlox, of which there are sixteen 
varieties, the whites, pinks, and reds showing well in 
mass displays. The perennial phlox is useful from 
its long blooming season. It dates as far back as 
1731. The annual or Drummond phlox was sent 
over from Texas in 1835, and has a large range of 
tints. It needs plenty of room and thorough water¬ 
ing. Interspersed amongst the garden beds are the 
Japanese striped corn, tiger lilies, and richly glowing 
dahlias, the last a favorite flower in this garden and 
very different from the older forms of the plant, which 
date back to 1802. Dwarf evergreens and rhododen¬ 
drons are set outontheestate in tasteful grouping,some 
of them along the path to the lodge. The bane of 
rhododendron culture in this country is the Rhododen¬ 
dron Ponticum which is not sufficiently hardy for 
the Northern States, but is largely advertised by the 
catalogues giving foreign specimens. Many plants 
named after individuals, as “ Sir Robert Peel,” have 
this variety in them and thousands of dollars have 
been wasted in their culture. The two native species 
which are best are the R. Catawbiensis and R. maxi¬ 
mum. 
Where the ground slopes low in a sunny spot lies a 
water-garden, a crescent shaped basin holding 
aquatic plants, the lotus (. Nelumbium speciosum ), 
and the water-lily (varieties of hardy nymphaea). 
As a border plant, and spreading into the basin, 
Japanese rice is growing. Beyond this at the back 
of the basin are banana plants, and the purple 
Japanese iris {Iris leevigata), so popular as a back¬ 
ground for aquatic gardens. 
One of the gardeners, a German, built a pictur¬ 
esque bridge over the brook which flows through the 
grounds. A hedge of untrained rambler roses, 
allowed to grow in riotous profusion, separates the 
flower garden from the field beyond. The rambler 
rose is free-blooming, and in winter serves as a wind- 
guard to protect low growing plants. Velvety pan¬ 
sies have been found in the garden as late as 
November. The pansy is a plant which was born 
in 1613. 
164 
