August  18,  1898. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER . 
121 
appearance,  and  the  latter  pest  must  be  kept  under  by  fumigating 
when  necessary. 
Varieties  are  numerous,  and  may  be  bought  to  name  from  the 
leading  nurserymen  ;  but  if  a  packet  of  mixed  seed  is  obtained  from 
any  house  of  standing  it  may  generally  be  relied  on  to  provide  a 
goodly  number  of  plants  in  all  the  colours  in  which  they  are  usually 
represented — pure  white,  deep  crimson,  and  reds;  others  are  spotted, 
and  some  show  off  the  different  colours  by  the  familiar  basal  ring. 
The  Butterfly  class  is  charming,  and  has  found  favour  ;  Vulcan  is  a 
good  dark ;  and  the  grandiflorum  varieties,  though  not  so  free,  are 
well  worth  including  where  several  plants  are  grown. — -J.  Shalford. 
THE  HERBACEOUS  GARDEN:  ITS  EFFECTIVE 
ARRANGEMENT. 
As  in  other  departments  of  the  garden  want  of  taste  is  here 
apparent,  as  gardeners  have  been  content  to  go  on  imitating  that 
which  they  have  seen  in  other  gardens  instead  of  copying  Nature  and 
utilising  theic  own  ideas.  I  do  not  intend  to  give  any  precise 
instructions  how  a  herbaceous  garden  ought  to  be  planted.  The 
general  instructions  are  to  plant  so  as  to  avoid  a  break  in  the  floral 
display,  and  to  plant  in  lines,  with  front  row,  middle,  and  back  row 
plants.  These  borders  frequently  encompass  the  kitchen  garden  in 
front  of  espalier  fruit  trees,  which  is  neither  fair  to  the  herbaceous 
plants  nor  the  fruit  trees.  By  planting  in  mixed  borders  as  they  are 
called,  and  the  term  is  very  appropriate,  we  frequently,  in  our 
endeavours  to  secure  variety,  ignore  the  fact  that  with  variety  must 
be  distinctness,  harmony,  and  proportion,  if  we  are  to  reach  success. 
This,  I  maintain,  is  impossible  unless  we  plant  in  groups  instead  of 
single  plants  dotted  about  here,  there,  and  everywhere. 
My  memory  carries  me  back  to  a  herbaceous  garden  on  the 
borders  of  the  counties  of  Durham  and  Yorks.  This  garden  was 
enclosed  by  12  feet  high  walls  of  brick,  except  on  its  southern 
side,  where  it  was  bounded  by  a  row  of  Ionic  columns  supporting  an 
ornamental  frieze,  from  which  the  park  beyond  stretched  in  broad  and 
grassy  sweeps  dotted  with  tall  ancestral  trees.  This  garden  was 
about  an  acre  in  extent,  and  had  three  entrance  doors,  one  from  the 
courtyard  of  the  mansion,  one  from  the  kitchen,  and  another  from  the 
pleasure  grounds,  so  that  it  was  convenient  and  of  easy  access.  Its 
walls  were  covered  with  Roses  and  other  climbing  plants.  The  wall 
having  a  western  aspect  was  principally  clothed  with  Roses  Gloire  de 
Dijon,  Rove  d’Or,  Reine  Marie  Henriette,  Cheshunt  Hybrid,  Sombreuil, 
Rubens,  Madame  Alfred  Carriere,  and  the  China  Roses,  with  the  Old 
Blush,  the  Old  Crimson,  and  the  intense  crimson  Cramoisie  Superieure. 
On  this  wall  was  also  the  Winter  Sweet  (Chimonanthus  fragrans)  to 
cheer  the  dark  December  days. 
Running  the  entire  length  of  this  wall  was  an  elevated  terrace 
walk,  from  which  we  descended  by  a  flight  of  several  stone  steps  to 
the  garden  below.  At  the  northern  end  of  the  walk  was  a  summer 
house,  completely  overcanopied  with  Ceanothus  Gloire  de  Versailles. 
The  other  walls  were  clothed  with  climbers — Calycanthus  floridus, 
Forsythia  viridissima,  F.  suspensa,  Kerria  japonica,  Wistaria  sinensis, 
Clematis  montana,  Roses  Lamarque  and  Souvenir  de  la  Malmaison, 
Jasmiuum  officinale,  J.  nudiflorum,  Crataegus  pyracantha,  Pyrus 
japonica,  Azara  microphylla,  and  Aristolochia  Sipho. 
At  the  foot  of  all  these  walls  were  borders  of  5  feet  in  width,  in 
which  were  plants  that  are  better  to  remain  undisturbed  for  several 
years,  and  comprised  Alstromeria  chilensis,  A.  aurantiaca,  Anemone 
japonica,  A.  japonica  alba,  Anthericum  liliastrum,  A.  liliago,  German 
Iris,  Iris  siberica,  I.  foetidissima  with  its  coppery  purple  flowers 
succeeded  by  orange  scarlet  berries,  I.  foetidissima  variegata,  Pseonies, 
Physalis  Alkekengi  (Winter  Cherry),  P.  Franchetti;  Liliums 
chalcedonicum,  croceum,  candidum,  testaceum,  Martagon,  and 
tigrinum.  Roses,  such  as  York  and  Lancaster,  The  Old  White 
(York  Rose),  and  many  varieties  of  Moss  Roses.  The  common  MuSk 
carpeted  the  ground,  and  spaces  left  at  intervals  were  occupied  by 
broad  patches  of  Aquilegia  chrysantha,  A.  coerulea,  A.  glandulosa, 
A.  californica,  and  Iceland  Popp  es.  Some  seeds  were  annually  sown 
to  keep  up  the  display  of  Columbines  and  Poppies. 
The  border  under  the  high  walk  of  the  terrace  being  narrow,  had 
only  low-growing  plants  at  its  foot,  and  these  were  iti  broad  patches, 
consisting  of  Did  Criiflsoir  Clove  Carnations  and  Mrs.  Matthews  White 
Clove.  Stocks  were  also  here  planted  annually,  and  Mignonette 
sown.  Tiarella  cordifolia,  with  its  beautifully  marked  leafage  and 
Spiraea-like  flowers,  and  Meconopsis  cambricum  (Welsh  Poppy)  also 
flourished.  The  edging  was  of  broad  stone,  and  then  a  5  feet  walk. 
The  terrace  wall  was  almost  on  a  level  with  the  walk,  and  was  sur¬ 
mounted  by  low  unpretentious  stone  vases,  which  throughout  the 
summer  were  fountains  of  flowers,  planted  as  they  usually  were  with 
the  old  white  Pink  of  cottage  gardens,  and  Mrs.  Sinkins  Pink.  The 
vases  were  not  more  than  2  feet  high,  and  so  were  completely  hidden 
by  the  wealth  of  flowers  and  grass  of  the  Pinks.  These  were  a  lesson 
m  beauty  that  Nature  unadorned  is  adorned  the  most.  For  how 
frequently  are  ornate  vases  and  richly  sculptured  figures  too  con¬ 
spicuous  in  our  gardens  to  mar  the  quietness  and  repose  with  their 
severity. 
Descending  the  steps,  placed  exactly  in  the  centre  of  the  terrace, 
on  each  side  was  a  border  of  Hybrid  Perpetual  Roses,  grown  on  the 
pegging-down  system.  These  extended  the  whole  breadth  of  this 
quadrangular  garden,  the  central  part  of  which  was  grass  kept  closely 
mown.  On  the  grass  were  beds  of  various  sizes,  but  all  circular  ;  each 
bed  containing  only  one  species  or  variety  of  plant,  and  this  system  of 
planting  I  wish  to  commend,  as  it  gives  distinctness,  and  also  allows 
of  the  exact  requirements  of  the  plants  being  administered.  Those 
requiring  annual  division  or  mulching  could  have  it  without  interfering 
with  the  tastes  or  idiosyncrasies  of  their  neighbours. 
Amongst  the  many  beautiful  plants  in  these  beds  in  June  and  July, 
to  enumerate  first  those  conspicuous  for  nobility  or  gracefulness  of 
form,  were  Astilbe  rivularis,  Asphodelus  luteus,  A.  alba,  Bocconia 
cordata,  Centaurea  macrocephala,  Chelone  barbata,  C.  obliqua  alba, 
Dictamnus  Fraxinella,  Echinops  ritro,  Eryngium  amethystinum, 
Eupatorium  purpureum,  Galega  officinalis  alba  (profuse  with  small 
white  Pea  flowers),  Gladiolus  byzantinus,  G.  Colvilli  alba,  G.  cardinalis, 
Hedysarum  coronarium,  II.  coronarium  album  (red  and  white  F rench 
HoneysucKles),  Hemerocallis  fulva,  H.  flava,  H.  flava  fl.-pl.,  H.Ivwanso 
fol.  variegata,  the  latter  most  distinct  and  beautiful,  with  bands  of  green 
and  white  ;  Hyacinthus  candicans;  English  and  Spanish  Iris;  Meum 
athamanticum,  with  umbels  of  white  scented  flowers  and  Fern-like 
leaves;  Monarda  didyma,  Morina  longi folia;  Spiraeas  Aruncus, 
Lindleyana,  palmata,  and  filipendula  plena;  and  Veratrum  nigrum, 
In  addition  there  were  tall  Phloxes,  Delphiniums,  Dielytra  spec- 
tabilis,  D.  eximia,  Thalictrum  aquilegifolium,  T.  minus,  Campanula 
persicflolia,  C.  persicifolia  alba,  C.  persicifolia  fl.-plena,  C.  glomerata 
dahurica,  Geranium  lancastriense,  G.  sanguineum,  G.  ibericum, 
Mertensia  siberica,  Teucrium  chamredrys,  Oriental  Poppies,  Papaver 
pilosuvn,  double  white  Rockets,  various  Veronicas,  Lychnis  dioica 
fl.-plena,  L.  vespertina  fl.-plena,  L.  viscaria  fl.-pl.,  and  the  pink 
Lychnis  flos  cuculi  fl.-pl. ;  Valeriana  vulgaris,  Potentillas,  Geums  and 
herbaceous  Pyrethrums,  and  Salvia  pratensis — in  fact,  a  whole 
nurseryman’s  catalogue  might  be  enumerated. 
The  fronts  of  the  wall  borders,  and  also  the  Rose  border  under  the 
terrace,  were  margined  next  the  gravel  walks  by  a  broad  margin  of 
dwarf  plants.  The  Rose  border  had  a  2  foot  broad  belt  of  Campanula 
purcila  alba  (white).  The  m»rgin  of  the  border  under  the  wall  with 
eastern  aspect  was  Campanula  pumila,  which  were  renewed  annually. 
The  wall  with  southern  aspect  had  a  broad  margin,  2  feet  in  width, 
of  Thymus  azorica,  aglow  in  crimson  in  June  and  July,  and  during 
summer  many  beds  and  vacancies  in  the  borders  were  filled  with 
half-hardy  plants,  while  spaces  were  reserved  for  biennials,  such  as 
Honesty  (Lunaria  biennis),  Canterbury  Bells,  Chrysanthemum 
coronarium,  Antirrhinums,  Pentstemons,  clumps  of  Sweet  Peas, 
surrounded  by  wire  netting,  the  netting  being  low  enough  to  be 
completely  hidden,  and  Clematises  were  also  planted  in  the  same 
way.  There  were  also  bushes  of  Lavender,  Rosemary,  Southernwood, 
and  Cottony  Lavender  for  perfumed  shoots.  Tall  plants  growing  from 
3  to  5  feet  in  height  were  distributed  evenly  over  the  whole  space. 
The  same  was  done  with  those  from  2  to  2j  feet  high,  and  those  of 
from  9  inches  to  1  foot,  so  as  to  give  proportion  and  balance  to  the 
whole. — F.  Street. 
ANNUAL  SILENES. 
Annual  Silenes  are  hardy  and  showy  spring-blooming  bed,  border, 
and  rockery  plants.  The  most  popular  are  the  varieties  of  Silene 
pendula  in  pink,  white,  red,  crimson,  and  intermediate  shades  of  colour. 
There  are  both  double  and  single  varieties,  any  of  which  produce  a  fine 
effect  when  blooming.  Massed  together  on  a  rockery  or  a  border, 
or  occupying  a  bed,  the  plants  grow  exceedingly  free,  but  they  ought  not 
to  be  crowded  at  the  first,  as  each  plant,  if  given  room  when  a  seedling,  soon 
commences  to  branch  and  forms  superior  plants  to  those  that  are  crowded. 
On  shrubbery  borders  and  waste  places  Silenes  are  often  found  self-sown, 
solitary  seedlings  growing  with  a  freedom  and  vigour  which  proves  the 
immense  advantage  of  providing  sufficient  space  for  the  early  development. 
Silenes  will  grow  in  any  ordinary  soil.  Seed  should  be  sown  during 
this  month  or  September,  either  where  the  plants  are  to  flower,  or  on  a  bed 
of  light  soil,  the  seedlings  in  the  latter  case  to  be  afterwards  transplanted 
3  or  4  inches  apart.  Here  they  will  grow  and  strengthen,  making  c  in¬ 
pact  well  rooted  examples.  They  will  be  ready  to  move  to  their  flowering 
positions  any  time  between  late  in  autumn  and  the  following  March, 
selecting  a  mild  period  for  the  planting.  They  are  readily  moved  with 
good  balls  of  soil  attached,  especially  if  a  little  leaf  soil  was  worked  into 
the  ground  before  transplanting  from  the  seed  bed. 
The  most  desirable  varieties  for  bedding  are  those  which  only  grow  about 
4  inches  high,  such  as  S.  pendula  compacta,  S.  p.  compacta  alba,  and 
several  other  specially  selected  dwarf  forms.  The  variety'  S.  psoud  i- 
atocion  is  early  blooming  and  very  hardy,  but  a  loose,  spreading  grower, 
not  adapted  for  cultivation  close  to  the  edges  of  beds  or  borders. — E.  D.  S. 
