1885 .] 
THE SHOWY OHOHI8. 
Orchis Spectabills. 
To most poisons tho name Orchis convoys 
tbo idea of one of those inystorious, fror- 
goous opiphytio childron of tho tropical for¬ 
ests; unaware that in our own woods and 
meadows arc found many inombors of the 
Oi-chid family, and among thorn some of tlio 
most intorosting and beautiful of our native 
plants. 
In tho accompanying illustration, from 
Henry Baldwin’s Orchids of Now England, 
iuid for which we arc indebted to John 
Wiley & Sons, Now York, is shoivn the only 
native species of tho gonus Orchis proper, 
popularly called Spring Orchis or, Prcachor 
in tho Pulpit. This is tho first to bloom in 
spring, and may be found in shady woods 
and thickets among rocks 
throughout the Northern States. 
It is a pretty little plant with 
thick, oblong-obovatc, shining 
leaves, and a low stalk of pink¬ 
ish-purple and white, fragrant 
flowers. Botanically it is one of 
our most interesting native 
plants on account of the peculiar 
arrangement of its flowers. 
Like most of our indigenous 
Orchidaceous plants it may be 
taken up in early spring and 
transplanted to a shady border 
or in pots ; and in so doing the 
more of the original soil adher¬ 
ing to the roots is taken up in 
a clump, the better will be the 
success. . 
JTBm AMERICAN GARDEN. 
53 
An annual top .Lessing of well rotted ma- 
ha dv .1 f 
l il r 'veil to let the leaves 
tho n 1 “ ’‘“V'jaceous beds remain 
theie during the winter, this natural cover- 
ig and nutriment being beneficial. 
favorite arguments against the 
cultivation of hardy plants is tliat they do 
not give continuous bloom through the sum¬ 
mer, .and that tho beds containing them are 
not so shoiy as those which afiord a mass 
of color, like the Geranium or Petuni.a. 
this is very true where no provision is made 
for a succession of bloom by cultivating 
CUITDEE OP HARDY HEEBA- 
OEODS PLANTS. 
PEEPAJBATION. 
It is useless to hope for suc¬ 
cess with herbaceous plants 
without, at the outset, making 
reasonable preparation. Alost 
hardy plants are deeper rooting 
than bedding plants, and the 
beds for their reception must be 
trenched or spaded to a depth 
of two feet, and well manured. 
Mopt herbaceous plants are good 
feeders and require good soil. 
Beds must not be located under 
trees where the roots of the lat¬ 
ter can impoverish the soil. 
The idea that when 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 is kept in good order the whole thing 
is a failure, and the vigor of display and 
bloom ceases to be at its best. 
OUT-DOOB CrrLTUKB. 
A large proportion of this class of plants is 
greatly benefited by being lifted ovei-y few 
years and divided and transplanted. Pyre- 
thrums, Phloxes, Delphiniums, Narcissus, 
and others feel the good effects of division 
and transplanting at intervals of two or 
*^rree years. Many make rapid growth and 
prm large clumps, and these should be 
*fted and divided in early spring, before 
^tive growth begins, and successfully 
wansplanted. This facility is a beifefit to 
® grower, who'can increase his stock with- 
®nt cost, and contrasts favorably with the 
ORCHIS SPECTABIUS.l 
such varieties as come into bloom at differ¬ 
ent periods of the year. The intelligent 
grower, however, does not make this mis¬ 
take ; and here it maybe said that the great¬ 
est loss under the bedding system is that of 
the blossoming in spring and ear y 
of Tulips, Soillas, Grape Hyacinths, Naicis- 
suses hardy Primroses, Saxifrages, Irises, 
Fritillarias, Globe flowers,Crocuses andhosts 
S oiher cilice plants and bulbs rarely seen 
under general cultivation. 
fbame cultubb. 
be utilized for this class, and a more general 
use of these conveniences should be favored. 
In them Violets, Anemones of all the early 
blooming kinds, Porget-me-nots, Primroses, 
Hellebores, Hepaticas,Pansies, andmany oth¬ 
er beautiful things can be grown to greater 
perfection than in a greenhouse. It needs 
only to make the possibilities of frame culture 
known .and understood to insure to the ama¬ 
teur who lacks a greenhouse the gi-eatest 
success with the class of plants named. With 
frames open to the sunlight and protected 
by the usual method, one may have flowers 
in plenty from .January to June. The Pansy 
which is everybody’s favorite, is rarely seen 
in perfection except in a cold frame. 
ABBANGEMENT. 
The arrangement of hardy flowers in the 
garden affords so much scope 
for tastes and knowledge that 
it would require a volume to 
make plain the many and vari¬ 
ous phases of gi-oupiug them 
with an eye to effect and con- 
tinuits’ of bloom. The land¬ 
scape gardener, in laying out 
lawns, etc., endeavors to form 
groups of trees and shrubs of 
contrasting habits of foliage, 
through which pleasing vistas 
for the eye may reach. Only the 
inexperienced will attempt to 
dot here and there an individual 
tree or shrub, which by its iso¬ 
lation loses its effect. We must 
carry this idea into the flower 
garden, in our arrangement of 
hardy plants, so far as relates 
to the grouping of a number of 
one species or variety together- 
A hundred Daffodils growing 
gregariously is a much finer 
sight in bloom than if the same 
number were scattered or dotted 
over the surface of the bed. By 
carrying out this idea with all 
the dwarfer plants much better 
results are attained, and we can 
extend it, if space permits, in a 
combination of hardy flowering 
shrubs in forming beds of hardy 
flowers. 
Wo can use for the backs of 
such beds as rest against a wall 
or fence, and for the centres of 
beds on the lawns, the dwarfer 
hardy Khododendrons, Halmias, 
Barberries, Spirma Thunbergii, 
Hydrangea panieulata, and here 
and there some of the sti’onger 
growing Hoses, such as Mme. 
Plantier, Harrison’s Yellow, and many of 
the climbing Roses like the Baltimore Belle, 
which is a most beautiful sight when left 
to scramble over a slight support. Rosa 
rugosa and the white variety are two of the 
finest plants for this purpose, having dark, 
shining, persistent foliage, not injm'ed by 
insects, and very beautiful flowers. We may 
also include hardy Azaleas, Japan Quinces, 
Viburnums, Weigelias, Audromedas, etc. 
In small beds a specimen of these shrubs 
here and there breaks the level, and re¬ 
lieves the eye as to general effect, besides 
affording flowers. In larger beds the more 
dwarfish kinds may be placed. Wo or three 
of each together, at intervals, but there 
should be no crowding.— E. L. Beard before 
the Massachusetts Horticultural Society. 
