,libraries47 ,,making ,a ,,garden ,,of ,,perennials ,,the ,,house ,,garden ,,making ,,books ,it is the intention of the publishers to make this series of little volumes1 of which ,making a ,garden of ,perennials is one1 a complete library of authoritative and well illustrated handbooks dealing with the activities of the home-maker and amateur gardener4 ,text1 pictures and diagrams will1 in each respective book1 aim to make perfectly clear the possibility of having1 and the means of having1 some of the more important features of a modern country or suburban home4 ,among the titles already issued or planned for early publication are the following3 ,making a ,rose ,garden2 ,making a ,lawn2 ,making a ,tennis ,court2 ,making a ,fireplace2 ,making ,paths and ,driveways2 ,making a ,rock ,garden2 ,making a ,garden with ,hotbed and ,coldframe2 ,making ,built-in ,bookcases1 ,shelves and ,seats2 ,making a ,garden to ,bloom ,this ,year2 ,making a ,water ,garden2 ,making a ,poultry ,house2 ,making the ,grounds ,attractive with ,shrubbery2 ,making a ,naturalized ,bulb ,garden2 with others to be announced later4 ,illustration3 ,to be really satisfying the flower garden must have that air of permanence that is given it by the perennials ,making a ,garden of ,perennials ,by ,w4 ,c4 ,,egan ,,new ,,york ,mc,b,r,i,d,e1 ,,nast ,,company #aiab ,copyright1 #aiab1 by ,mc,b,r,i,d,e1 ,,nast ,,co4 ,published ,june1 #aiab ,,contents ,page ,,introduction #a ,,preparing ,,the ,,beds #g ,,winter ,,mulching #bj ,,summer ,,mulching #bc ,,plant ,,combinations #cj ,,weeding #cd ,,lists ,,of ,,dependable ,,perennials3 ,,of ,,general ,,excellence #cf ,,for ,,shady ,,positions #di ,,for ,,dry ,,soils #ej ,,for ,,wet ,,soils #ea ,,alpines1 ,,or ,,rock ,,plants #ea ,,the ,,illustrations ,a ,,garden ,,of ,,perennials ,frontispiece ,facing ,page ,a ,,colony ,,of ,,german ,,iris #d ,,sweet ,,rocket ,,against ,a ,,foliage ,,background #ab ,,peonies #bd ,,canterbury ,,bells ,,and ,,foxglove #cj ,,anemone ,,japonica #ch ,,phlox ,,paniculata #df ,,swamp ,,mallow1 ,,gaillardia ,,and ,,campanula ,,persicifolia #ej ,,making ,a ,,garden ,,of ,,perennials ,,introduction ,the successful garden has a permanent basis4 ,there must be some flowers that appear year after year1 whose position is fixed and whose appearance can be counted on4 ,the group classed as perennials occupies this position and about flowers of this class is arranged all the various array of annuals and bulbs4 ,these last act as reinforcements in rounding out the garden scheme4 ,perennials are plants that live on year after year if the conditions surrounding them are congenial4 ,trees and shrubs are perennials1 of course2 in these the stems are woody1 but we are considering only those known as herbaceous perennials1 having stems of a more or less soft texture that1 with the exception of a few evergreen species1 die back each fall1 new ones appearing the following spring4 ,quite a number of them are too tender to be generally grown as hardy perennials1 but those that bloom freely the first year--like the snapdragon--are treated as annuals1 discarding them when the season is ended4 ,some biennials--those that do not bloom until the second year1 and then die--may be placed among the perennials and considered of their class1 because they seed so freely at the base of the parent plant and bloom the following year1 that their presence in the border is nearly always assured4 ,the only thing necessary to do is to transplant those not in the situation you desire them to bloom in4 ,rudbeckia triloba1 one of the ,black-eyed ,susan type1 is not only a good example of this class1 but a charming plant that all should grow1 and1 moreover1 it is a very accommodating one1 doing splendidly in semi-shady places1 such as north of buildings or under weeping trees like the rose-flowered ,japanese weeping cherry4 ,it is at home in full sunshine where it will form a broadly rounded1 bushy plant about three feet in diameter and1 when in full bloom1 with its myriad of black-eyed flowers1 it can dispel the worst case of melancholia a dyspeptic ever enjoyed4 ,it requires a good open1 rather light soil to do itself justice4 ,if lifted when in full bloom1 put into a ten-inch pot1 well soaked at the roots1 and set aside for a few hours away from sun and wind1 it will last for two weeks as a porch or house plant4 ,we hear a good deal about the gardens of our grandmothers1 perennial gardens1 in which the plants outlived the flagstones at the house door4 ,with a few exceptions1 perennials are not long-lived4 ,the gas plant1 peonies1 some of the iris1 day lilies1 and a few others1 seem permanent4 ,the usual run require to be taken up about every two or three years and divided4 ,there are two reasons for this4 ,in the first place1 the roots have exhausted all the food within reach and1 again1 the main crown1 from which spring the blooming shoots1 dies from exhaustion4 ,at the outer edge of this decay is generally a fringe of live matter which1 if taken up1 separate from the decayed center1 divided1 and reset in good soil1 will rejuvenate itself1 and soon form a new plant4 ,in unfavorable sections the ,texas gaillardia will lose its crown during winter1 and the anxious novice watches impatiently in the spring for its reappearance1 and finally digs it up only to find that while the crown is decayed the roots are alive1 and here and there1 on these1 new plant buds are forming which1 if not disturbed1 would soon make good plants1 probably not placed1 however1 just where wanted4 ,nurserymen often avail themselves of this peculiarity and increase their stock by taking up a plant1 cutting the roots into small sections1 and growing them separately4 ,illustration3 ,the ,german iris is one of the most beautiful forms in the flower world and it will flourish in practically any moderately good soil ,we must remember that nine-tenths of the plants we grow are exotic--natives of distant parts and climes--coming from various atmospheric conditions1 and from all kinds of soil4 ,we bring them into our garden and grow them all under one climatic influence and in the one kind of soil we happen to possess4 ,certainly we cannot expect uniform success with all of them4 ,you might as well bring into one room unlettered natives of distant climes and expect them all to enter into a general conversation4 ,even in gardens quite near each other1 their permanence varies4 ,i cannot grow1 successfully1 any of the boltonias1 while within a quarter of a mile of me1 in a friend's garden1 they grow like weeds4 ,our soil is the same1 and one would suppose that the climatic conditions were1 still the fact remains4 ,i merely mention this so that any novice finding that he cannot grow some plants as well as others near him1 may not feel lonesome in his grief4 ,it is1 however1 a good plan1 when a plant supposedly easy to grow1 fails to materialize1 to try it in another part of your own garden1 and if it does not do well there1 discard and forget it--the world is full of good things4 ,due to the fact of the perennial's habit of annual recurrence the cultural directions are different from the flowers of but a season's bloom4 ,there are some vital fundamentals that every gardener should know and some short cuts to success that every one may know4 ,since perennials1 then1 form the very kernel of the garden these are things of first importance in the growing of flowers and will be here elaborated sufficiently to give the reader an impetus that will carry him at a bound into the inner circle of the garden mysteries4 ,,preparing ,,the ,,beds ,do we want a successful flower bed--one that our neighbors will envy--or one in which the plants are struggling to exist8 ,if we want the former--and who does not8--we must give our plants good pasturage4 ,they are as fond of the fat of the land as we are1 and1 since they gladden our hearts with their radiant blooms1 we should treat them fairly4 ,and how8 ,by giving them a good1 deep soil for their root-run1 not only rich in food1 but loose and friable4 ,most all virgin soils contain ample plant food1 but the deeper part lacks the result of the action of air1 sun and frost1 and the natural humus of decayed leaves and grasses4 ,the plant food it contains is uncooked--that is1 not ready for plant assimilation4 ,therefore1 the beds to contain your perennials should be dug at least two feet deep--three is better--and good garden soil1 or soil from a corn-field or any hoed crop where the weeds have been kept down1 used to supplement all but the top layer one foot in depth4 ,all of this applies to tree and shrub holes also4 ,this top layer of one foot in depth is apt to be in fair condition for immediate use and may be applied in the bottom of the bed1 mixed with either fresh or rotted manure4 ,the soil brought in may be mixed with old manure and placed on top4 ,a word about old manure is opportune here4 ,any manure that has been piled up for a year or more in a weed-infested corner and used on your grounds1 especially on your lawn1 is the best promoter of exercise ,i know of1 and can keep you busy all summer dislodging the weeds that spring from the seed its bosom protected4 ,of course1 in a few sections where the soil is three feet deep--as ,i am told it is in the ,illinois corn belt--all that is needed is to loosen up the soil to the depth mentioned1 and add old manure4 ,if the removal and bringing in of so much new soil is too harsh on the pocketbook we must proceed in a more economical way4 ,if the soil is clayey in texture1 mix with it sifted coal ashes or sand1 and the coarser part of the ashes may be incorporated with the soil in the lower foot of bed4 ,remove the top one-foot layer1 and set it aside2 throw out the bottom soil to the remaining depth4 ,break it up finely and1 in replacing it1 besides the coal ashes or sand1 add fresh strong manure1 placing it in horizontal layers--say three inches of soil1 and then a layer of manure four inches thick1 when gently tamped down2 or make the layers slantingly--say at an angle of about forty-five degrees4 ,this will add humus to the soil1 and allow air and moisture to penetrate it4 ,then put in the original top layer1 mixing it with old manure4 ,no fresh manure should touch the root of a plant4 ,the fresh manure at the bottom of the bed will be well rotted by the time the roots reach it4 ,after the top layer is put on you will find the bed raised up six to eight inches above the lawn1 which is all right2 it will settle enough in time4 ,at all times break up the soil into fine particles1 otherwise a lump of clay will remain a lump1 and is of little value for plant use4 ,in making beds or shrub holes close to buildings having a cellar1 one generally has to remove entirely all the soil1 as that present usually consists of the deeper soil from the cellar excavation1 mixed with bricks and mortar--few flowers root well in brick4 ,place your flower beds along the walks1 at the house1 or along the lot lines1 but do not clutter the center of your lawn with them4 ,an open grass plot adds apparent size and dignity to any place4 ,give as much open sunlight as possible4 ,only early spring bloomers1 like the hepaticas and trilliums1 grow in what we call shade--though at the time of their growth and bloom they have the sunlight through the leafless tree branches4 ,do not make a bed where the drainage is bad or where water will stand in it during the winter4 ,tile draining will improve the bed under almost any circumstances4 ,keep away from large trees4 ,a vigorous elm1 and a perennial cannot eat and drink out of the same dish and both grow fat4 ,the perennial will be the one to suffer1 mostly from lack of moisture4 ,if you have planted near a tree or lack of space compels you to do so1 take a sharp spade and1 each spring1 cut deeply all along the edge of the flower bed nearest the tree1 and pull out from the bed all the small roots you can without disturbing the plants4 ,this will help it for a time1 but the elm will invade the bed again and the operation must be repeated4 ,this applies to beds within eight or ten feet of a tree4 ,for any bed much nearer1 the cutting would be apt to injure the tree1 and the growth in the bed would be a poor one4 ,where the grounds are large and there is ample room for large beds at the borders1 with an open lawn in front1 flowering shrubs may be used as a background for perennials1 but the growth of the shrubs requires frequent removals of the perennials further forward1 and a frequent renewal of the plant food which the shrub is sharing4 ,this method requires more watering on account of the double duty required of the soil4 ,avoid fancy or geometrical shapes4 ,they belong1 when allowable1 to formal gardens where tender bedding plants are used4 ,along walks1 rectangular beds may be made1 but against buildings or boundary lines1 while the rear line may be comparatively straight1 the front should be undulating1 having long sweeping bays and promontories4 ,no short curves should exist4 ,they interfere with the lawn-mower4 ,when it is desirable to face a boundary border with a walk1 then1 of course1 the front line of a bed should be straight4 ,illustration3 ,a background of vines or flowering shrubs is worth striving for1 especially to set off white flowers like sweet rocket ,some perennials require to be planted two feet apart1 and in some1 like peonies1 three feet is close enough1 for in time their tops will meet4 ,eighteen inches apart is enough to allow for the majority and some slender ones require but one foot4 ,all this should be taken into consideration when determining the width of the bed4 ,starting with the proposition that the average plant requires eighteen inches headroom1 and that the first row may be planted six inches within the bed at the front--nine to twelve is better--and the second one back eighteen inches1 and six from the back1 we find that with rows two plants deep it requires a bed two feet and a half in width4 ,this should be the narrowest allowance you should make4 ,in a four-foot bed you can place them three deep1 and one five and a half takes four plants4 ,in other words1 you increase your width in jumps of eighteen inches at a time4 ,while this is not actually necessary1 it is best and applies only to the widest and narrowest points4 ,the intervening curved lines will vary from this measurement but it makes no difference1 because you do not plant in straight rows from back to front as one would cabbages4 ,in planting at boundary lines or at buildings1 the taller ones should be used at the back1 but the semi-tall ones--say three feet in height--should occasionally be brought well toward the front in order to avoid stiffness and to add irregularity to the general effect4 ,if a house or fence is at the back1 flowering vines like the ,clematis paniculata1 or ,c4 flammula1 or any annual flowering vine1 may be used here and there4 ,in detached beds which may be seen from all sides1 the taller plants are set in the middle4 ,the effect is much better if you plant in groups of four1 six1 or more of one kind4 ,it relieves the effect of spottiness4 ,plant in an irregular manner so as to avoid stiffness or lumpiness1 and let one group run in behind another4 ,if you plant large groups in a pear-shaped form with the narrow stem end slightly curved and let the larger end of the adjoining pear-shaped group run up to the narrow stem of its neighbor1 you will produce the effect ,i suggest4 ,the plants you buy1 being small1 if planted as suggested will not occupy all the ground the first year4 ,these spaces may be carpeted with annuals for a year or so1 or planted with gladioli1 lilies or ,hyacinth candicans4 ,i will not attempt to discuss the fighting and clashing of colors sometimes seen in plantings4 ,the acknowledged head of the house--she who is probably the one who desires the flower border--is generally an authority on pleasing color combinations4 ,securely staking tall-growing plants is necessary if one desires neatness and effectiveness in the garden4 ,we care for a plant twelve months in the year for the benefit we derive from its short season of bloom1 and to allow it1 then1 to be sprawled upon the ground by passing storms seems cruel4 ,broom handles and ash rods1 half an inch in diameter1 used by basket makers1 may be obtained from dealers in broom material4 ,bamboo canes are useful1 as well as the painted stakes sold by seed houses4 ,the stakes should be forced well down into the soil4 ,often1 in dry weather when the ground is hard1 they are not driven down far enough and the first hard rain softens the soil around them1 and1 if a strong wind exists1 the plant may topple over and carry the stake with it4 ,in tying them don't hug them as you would a long-lost brother2 give them some natural freedom4 ,in large groups1 place the stakes around them1 three or four feet apart1 and string from stake to stake1 running cross strings through the plants or between them4 ,a single large plant generally requires at least three stakes4 ,do it before they are broken down by storms1 for once broken it is hard to make a good job of it1 especially if left down for some time4 ,then the growing ends turn up for light and harden in that bent condition4 ,if you raise the perennials yourself it is best to grow them one year in a reserve bed1 say in the vegetable garden1 because but very few will bloom the first year from seed4 ,purchased plants should have blossoms the first year1 as they are supposed to be one-year-old seedlings or are divisions of old plants4 ,these may be set out in the first position upon arrival4 ,seedlings in the reserve bed may be planted in rows1 each row a foot apart1 and the plants six inches apart in the rows2 thus planted1 they take up but little room and in the early fall or next spring they may be removed to their permanent quarters4 ,in transplanting1 be sure to expose the roots as little as possible to the sun or drying winds4 ,when plants arrive with the started foliage looking wilted1 sprinkle them overhead and set them in a shady sheltered position for a while--say an hour4 ,this will generally revive them enough to go on with your planting4 ,if you have reason to suppose the plants were frosted in transit1 set the box in a cool cellar over night4 ,a gradual thawing out may rejuvenate them1 while a sudden thawing is dangerous4 ,in planting1 it often helps an amateur to take a few stakes and place one at each point he desires to set a plant4 ,if you set six or more stakes1 plant six or more plants1 pulling up the stakes as you proceed to set out more4 ,make the holes in the bed wide enough to allow the roots to go in without crowding1 and after filling in the soil1 press it down firmly around the neck of the plant1 and over the roots1 and water well when all the bed is planted4 ,when dry1 hot weather comes1 and you think artificial watering necessary1 soak the bed well and then let it alone for some time1 although1 in the evening1 after a hot sunny day accompanied by a strong1 drying wind1 if the foliage looks wilted somewhat1 a showering overhead is beneficial4 ,the day after a good soaking it is well to go lightly over the bed with a hoe or rake and stir up the soil1 breaking the crust produced by the watering4 ,this makes a mulch that will conserve the moisture and protect the roots from the hot sun4 ,frequent slight waterings keep the moisture at the top and the roots are then inclined to grow upwards to meet it4 ,if you then neglect to water1 the soil soon becomes dry and the roots suffer4 ,,winter ,,mulching ,when winter approaches1 if you desire tidiness1 cut the tops down 7except evergreen-foliaged plants7 even if the frost has not already done this work for you1 and cover the bed with well-rotted manure1 but it is really better to allow the tops to remain all winter1 especially in the case of hollow-stemmed plants4 ,well-decayed manure needs but little going over in the spring1 requiring only the removal of the foreign material and the straw chaff it may contain4 ,what remains is generally the color of the soil1 thus unnoticeable and acts as a mulch during the summer4 ,fresh manure may be used--in fact it is better1 because the plants receive the benefit of the leachings1 which is pretty well spent in old manure4 ,in large grounds there is1 however1 considerable labor attached to the removal of this fertilizer in the spring1 as it must be taken away for neatness' sake4 ,while this manure has the greater part of its strength leached out1 it is well worth saving for the humus still in it1 and it may be dug in in the vegetable garden1 or placed in a large flat pile about two feet high while still loosely spread4 ,melons1 squash1 pumpkins or similar sprawling vines may be grown in it4 ,for each plant dump about one-half a wheelbarrow of good soil on the top1 level and sow in it1 or set out plants1 if the seedlings are started elsewhere4 ,the roots of these plants like the loose run the open manure allows4 ,in extreme dry weather the growing squash or pumpkins should be well watered4 ,in the fall this manure has become fine in texture and makes a splendid winter's mulch for snowdrops1 crocus1 etc4 ,do not be in a hurry about removing the winter's covering when the first warm days of spring appear4 ,more damage is done in early spring than in settled cold weather4 ,it is the alternate freezing and thawing that does the most damage1 and the surface water lying over the crowns of plants1 which the frozen ground underneath does not allow to go down4 ,i have seen roots of shallow-rooted plants1 ,lobelia cardinalis for instance1 growing in clayey soil1 lying on the surface of the ground in spring--pried out by soil expansion4 ,part of the covering may be removed quite early but enough should remain to shade the ground4 ,,summer ,,mulching ,shallow-rooted plants like the cardinal flower 7,lobelia cardinalis7 and the tall1 fall-flowering hardy phloxes1 dislike the hot sun beating down on their roots4 ,being surface rooters1 and at the same time fond of moisture1 they suffer when the surface soil is dried out4 ,they should have a summer mulch to intercept the radiation of moisture from the soil4 ,the spent manure ,i mentioned as fine for covering bulbs1 is splendid for this purpose and as it is of the same color as the soil1 its presence is hardly noticeable2 besides it adds humus4 ,almost any open material may be used1 that will not offend our ideas of tidiness in appearance4 ,grass clippings from the lawn-mower may be used4 ,some plants are late in appearing above ground in the spring1 ,platycodons for instance1 and there is danger of their being dug up by impatient amateurs who have either forgotten their presence or imagined they were dead and the ground vacant4 ,it is well1 therefore1 to place in the fall some cane stakes at each plant or in a row around a group of this class to indicate their presence4 ,i also place stakes at each lily as they generally occupy open spaces between perennials1 and ,i seldom wish to disturb them if it becomes necessary to remove one of the perennials4 ,with few exceptions--peonies and the gas plant1 for instance--perennials need dividing and resetting every two or three years1 which should be done in the early fall or early spring1 but never when the soil is very wet1 because in the subsequent manipulation of the soil to replenishing its food supply1 it should be dry enough to break up into fine particles4 ,the ,japanese anemone should be replanted only in the spring4 ,it is in bloom and in active life in the fall4 ,the best way to proceed is to work one section at a time--say a ten-foot strip4 ,cut back the foliage1 take up the plants and lay them aside1 covering with burlap or some material to keep the sun and wind from their roots4 ,then dig the bed up1 deeply1 and add some well-rotted manure1 rake smoothly and replant4 ,while it is probably best not to set the same plants back in the same position occupied before1 it may be done1 for if the soil has been well worked up it is apt to have changed its position4 ,then take up another section and do the same4 ,in the meantime all large roots are divided4 ,some may be pulled apart1 but more often they have to be cut through with a sharp spade or a butcher knife4 ,discard all evidence of decay and use only the healthy outer rim1 possessing well-developed roots4 ,they generally show the stalk buds for next year's growth4 ,three to five of these buds will make a good plant4 ,sometimes1 in the case1 perhaps1 of a cherished but not over-robust larkspur1 you find part of the original root decayed1 but if it has a few good roots attached to it1 dust powdered sulphur on the decayed part--it often checks decay--and you may eventually restore your pet to a healthy condition4 ,illustration3 ,peonies have the advantages of few enemies1 long and vigorous life1 beauty and1 in most varieties1 delightful fragrance ,if you want a delightful recreation and lots of fun1 and would like to possess some plant producing a flower entirely new in color or form1 and1 certainly in your estimation finer than any your rival neighbors have ever seen1 make a reserve bed in some sunny spot and raise hybrid delphiniums4 ,in fact any one possessing a good collection of perennials should have a reserve plantation to draw from in order to fill up gaps that will be found in the main bed after any hard winter4 ,it is especially useful for keeping up a stock of that charming but short-lived perennial1 the columbine 7,aquilegia71 which seldom can be depended upon after the second year4 ,i am speaking of the finer forms4 ,these hybrid delphiniums1 or garden larkspur1 possess the blood of two or more species and as a result are inclined to sport1 producing flowers of various forms and colors1 entirely different from those of the parents4 ,the word sport as used by gardeners is applied to any plant that displays a marked contrast in foliage1 flower1 form or habit of growth1 from the type or normal aspect of the original species4 ,the well-known golden glow is a good example1 being a double form of the single-flowered ,rudbeckia laciniata1 a tall member of the ,black-eyed ,susan family1 and known as one of the coneflowers4 ,the flower head of the type is composed of two parts--the outer row of yellow ray florets1 which is not a part of the flower proper1 except that it might be likened to the fringe that borders a curtain1 and the dark brown cone in the center1 which is composed of numerous minute1 individual flowers like the dandelion1 each perfect and capable of producing seed4 ,nature is slyly freakish at times1 and in this instance she changed the individual flowers into ray florets4 ,fortunately some observing flower lover saw this one original plant1 for undoubtedly the freak occurred in one plant only1 and transplanting it to his garden1 eventually gave to the floral world the now common golden glow4 ,if not noticed by some one1 the plant would have lived its allotted term and died unknown to the world1 for it produces no seed4 ,the delphinium sports into various forms of flower1 color and shape--the tones of color being a mingling of blues1 pinks and mauve1 some in the most lovely combinations imaginable4 ,they will all bloom the first year from seed if sown in ,february or ,march in a greenhouse or hot-bed1 but will not all bloom at once1 so that for at least a period of one month1 new blooms are opening each day4 ,one's main pleasure is in expectancy4 ,you are always looking and hoping for something better1 and you generally get it4 ,it is best1 when a plant does not produce a flower up to grade1 to dig it up and discard it1 but those that are good should be marked in some manner to identify them4 ,a label placed at their side will do1 but the better way is to get some small sheet-lead tags1 bearing stamped-in numbers or letters4 ,attach to wire pegs ten inches long and force down near the plant1 recording its number in your ,garden ,book with a description of the flower4 ,this enables you at any planting time--spring is the best for delphiniums--to plant in groups of light blues1 dark blues1 etc4 ,you may be undecided sometimes as to whether you consider a plant good enough to keep or not4 ,in this case keep it1 but mark it a hold-over4 ,some plants do better the second season4 ,they may be sown outdoors in ,may1 but will hardly bloom the same year4 ,,plant ,,combinations ,many combinations may be used whereby a certain area may be made to produce a double crop of bloom1 and thus prolong the flowering season within that area4 ,peonies1 which are planted two and a half to three feet apart1 may have the ,lilium superbum1 the later varieties of gladiolus1 or ,hyacinth candicans planted in between them2 the last two should be taken up each fall as they are not hardy in all sections4 ,the lilies will require resetting every few years1 as they travel around in their new growth1 and may invade the peony roots4 ,these will flower above the peony foliage4 ,fall is the best time to plant any lily4 ,the shooting star 7,dodecatheon media7 may be planted between the spreading dwarf plants of that admirable bell flower 7,campanula ,carpatica74 ,the bell flowers may be planted eighteen inches apart and1 in the spring1 when the shooting stars are up and in bloom1 the foliage of the campanula is hardly in evidence1 but during the summer it occupies all the space between them4 ,illustration3 ,there are interesting combinations of flowers not only for succession of bloom but for simultaneous bloom1 as ,canterbury bells 7,campanula medium7 and foxglove 7,digitalis7 ,after flowering1 all that part of the shooting star above ground turns brown1 dies back and disappears to return again next spring4 ,the ,virginia bluebell 7,mertensia ,virginica7 is another charming plant of the same habit1 and as it is worthy of cultivation in groups1 it often becomes a question where to place it so that the bare ground it leaves behind is not an eye-sore4 ,besides colonies ,i have established in my ravine1 where the overhanging underbrush hides its absence later on1 ,i grow it under large bushes of forsythia4 ,both bloom at the same time and the pink buds and open blue bells of the ,mertensia1 when seen through the fleecy mass of the golden bells of the forsythia1 make a charming picture4 ,after flowering1 the forsythia hides the disrobing ,mertensia with its heavy sheet of foliage4 ,some perennials--the bleeding heart and the perennial poppy--have ragged foliage after blooming and require some tall bushy plant to be placed in front and around them to hide their shabbiness4 ,strong-growing perennials1 asters or the biennial ,rudbeckia triloba1 are good for this purpose4 ,some instances occur where a low hedge of perennials might look well1 for instance in a small yard where all the lines are formal and a straight walk leads from gate to house4 ,a floral hedge might be placed at each side of the walk by making beds eighteen inches to two feet wide and deep4 ,the best perennial hardy plant ,i know for this purpose is the gas plant 7,dictamnus fraxinella71 which1 when once established1 remains a joy1 almost forever4 ,some people are still enjoying the blooms of plants set out by their great-grandmothers4 ,this plant is slow in increasing its size1 but a row planted twelve inches apart will in time make a compact hedge with a dark green1 lustrous foliage1 over two feet tall and fully as broad4 ,the flower spikes are borne well above the foliage1 some pink1 deeply veined a darker hue1 and some white4 ,a mixture of the colors is desirable4 ,on account of the slow habit of its increase1 the bed will look scantily furnished for a few years4 ,this can be remedied by growing at each side of the row of plants any spring-flowering bulb1 or by carpeting in summer with sweet alyssum1 sowing seeds in the bed4 ,any low-growing annual will do1 but it must be low-growing or it may injure the ,fraxinella4 ,,weeding ,paradoxical as it may seem1 the weed is the best friend the farmer has because it compels him to cultivate his land in order to exterminate the intruder4 ,cultivation keeps the soil open to air and moisture and conserves the latter4 ,it is best1 therefore1 to go over lightly with a hoe the day after a heavy rain or a good watering4 ,the time to weed is before you see the weeds1 but if they do appear1 don't run away from them4 ,when none are in sight1 the chances are that upon microscopic examination1 a velvety fuzz of green would be discovered4 ,these are minute weed seedlings1 but yet slightly rooted1 and easily treated by simple dislodgment4 ,a hot1 windy day is a good time to hoe between your plants1 because the wind and sun kill the uprooted weeds in a short time4 ,they dry up1 and there is but little to remove4 ,on a damp cloudy day if a disturbed bit--no matter how small--of the pestiferous couch grass rolls near the base of a plant and remains there1 it will send down its roots among those of the plant1 and it is almost impossible to get them out without taking the plant up4 ,,lists ,,of ,,dependable ,,perennials ,it is useless to attempt to name and describe all the good perennials that may be grown1 but there are some that seem to do well in all sections and it may be well to call attention to some of them4 ,anchusia ,italica--,italian ,alknet ,one should grow the ,dropmore variety1 or possibly ,perry's variety1 a new form just introduced4 ,i would not have included this plant in the list1 because it does not winter well and a stock of seedling plants should be grown each year and wintered in a coldframe1 did it not present such an airy1 open-headed plant covered with its gentian-blue flowers for a long time4 ,a good blue is a rare color in the garden4 ,a group of these should be planted about two and a half feet apart and at the rear1 as they grow five to six feet in height4 ,asters 7hardy7 ,the so-called aster1 grown by florists1 and in general gardens1 is not a true aster1 but is known botanically as ,callistephus ,chinensis1 introduced from ,china in #agca1 and is a hardy annual4 ,why it received the common name of aster ,i have never been able to find out4 ,the true aster is named from its star shape1 and in ,england is much prized and is called the ,michaelmas ,daisy1 because they are in full bloom at the time of the feast of ,st4 ,michael4 ,as they grow wild nearly everywhere in the ,states1 they are not grown so much in gardens here4 ,all good catalogues list quite a number of good varieties for one to choose from4 ,being tall they should be planted at the rear4 ,aconitum--,monk's-hood1 ,helmet ,flower ,this plant1 the roots of which are poisonous1 should not be grown where children are apt to get at its roots1 and when transplanted care should be taken not to allow any of its small1 beet-like tubers to lie around1 the surplus being burned4 ,they grow about four feet high1 blooming in the latter part of summer4 ,a4 autumnale and ,a4 ,napellus are among the best4 ,anemones--,wind ,flower ,anemone ,pennsylvanica is a native1 growing a little over a foot in height1 producing in profusion fairly large white flowers in ,july and ,august4 ,having a woodsy look1 it seems at home in semi-shaded positions1 where it does well1 but will thrive in full sun4 ,the king of the tribe1 however1 is the ,japanese variety1 ,a4 ,japonica1 especially the variety ,alba1 with large1 showy1 pure white flowers1 blooming late in the fall1 often after the first slight frost1 and at a time when all others are gone4 ,for this reason they should be planted where they may be seen from some house window1 and thus be enjoyed when it is too chilly to be out-of-doors4 ,if planted eighteen inches apart1 cup and saucer ,canterbury bells may be planted in between them and removed when through blooming4 ,the anemones do not require the room before that4 ,illustration3 ,one of the brightest stars of the garden in late fall is the ,japanese anemone ,arabis ,alpina--,rock ,cress ,rock cress is an early spring1 white-flowering plant4 ,its low-growing habit makes it suitable for edging4 ,in the fall plant ,chionodoxa ,lucili in between them4 ,this is a blue-flowering bulb1 hardy1 cheap and in flower at the same time the rock cress is4 ,aquilegia--,columbine ,these have been mentioned in connection with the article on reserve beds4 ,the ,rocky ,mountain columbine 7,a4 crulea71 a bright blue form1 is probably the handsomest one of the family1 but it seldom lasts long4 ,the golden columbine 7,a4 chrysantha7 seems to be the sturdiest of the group and lasts several years4 ,it belongs to the long-spurred class1 all of which are good4 ,bocconia cordata--,plume ,poppy ,the plume poppy is a stately plant1 attaining a height of seven to eight feet1 bearing in ,july and ,august terminal panicles of creamy white flowers having large1 indented glaucous foliage4 ,it has one fault1 however2 it spreads rapidly and soon takes possession of the whole bed1 and therefore should be in an individual hole of its own4 ,the plantings are sometimes made in large bottomless tubs1 sunk in the ground4 ,campanula--,bell ,flower ,nearly all of this family1 as well as the allied ,platycodons1 are good4 ,they are slender1 upright growers1 as a rule1 but ,c4 ,carpatica1 already mentioned in the text1 grows but eight inches tall4 ,the species macrantha persicifolia1 rotundifolia 7,blue ,bells of ,scotland7 and ,trachelium1 are the most reliable among the group4 ,the cup-and-saucer1 and the chimney bell flower1 are biennials1 blooming but once1 and have to be wintered the year prior in a coldframe4 ,centaureas--,hard-heads ,like an open sunny position4 ,c4 macrocephala is the best1 bearing thistle-like golden yellow flowers4 ,coreopsis ,the species lanceolata1 and ,c4 grandiflora1 have rich golden flowers of pleasing form1 splendid for cutting4 ,they grow about two feet high and bloom all summer if not allowed to go to seed1 but seldom last over the third year4 ,delphiniums ,have already been discussed4 ,all the named varieties are good1 especially ,belladonna4 ,see page #bf4 ,dictamnus--,gas ,plant ,fully described on page #cb4 ,digitalis--,foxglove ,the form usually grown is treated as a biennial1 and with me1 must be coldframed the first year4 ,ambigua or grandiflora is a perennial having pleasing pale yellow flowers1 and is a comparatively long-lived plant4 ,echinops--,globe ,thistle ,this is a tall1 interesting plant with foliage somewhat like a thistle4 ,e4 ,ritro is the best4 ,its peculiar flower head consists of a ball about an inch and a half in diameter1 from which spring1 in close array all over the ball1 minute flowers of a deep metallic blue4 ,eryngium--,sea ,holly ,a plant somewhat similar in appearance to the ,echinops1 but smaller in all its parts4 ,e4 amethystinum is the best1 having small globular flower heads of an amethystine blue color1 this color also extending quite a way down the flower stems4 ,eupatorium--,thoroughwort ,two forms are in the market--,e4 ageratoides1 bearing numerous small white flowers in late summer1 and ,e4 coelestinum1 with light blue flowers similar to the ageratum4 ,both are good4 ,funkia--,plantain ,lily--,broad-leaf ,day ,lily ,i consider ,f4 subcordata grandiflora the best of this group4 ,in time a single plant1 if not crowded1 will make a mound of green foliage1 looking as if an inverted bushel basket were shingled with broad overlapping foliage1 above which1 in ,august1 spring pure white1 sweet-scented lily-like flowers4 ,it will stand partial shade4 ,if planted in groups they should be placed two and a half to three feet apart4 ,tulips may be planted between them4 ,gaillardia--,blanket ,flower ,the perennial forms produce much handsomer flowers than do the annuals4 ,all of our garden perennial forms1 including grandiflora1 are varieties of ,g4 aristata1 and1 being natives of ,texas1 are not always hardy in the ,northern ,states4--,see page #d in the text4 ,it is a rather sprawling plant1 growing naturally some two feet high1 and hard to stake1 but may be pegged down4 ,use common long hairpins4 ,it requires an open situation in full sun1 and thrives best in a sandy soil1 well drained4 ,geum--,avens ,quite a hardy border plant1 rather low in its foliage1 but throwing its flower stems up fully eighteen inches1 blooming more or less all summer4 ,g4 coccineum1 with scarlet flowers1 and ,g4 ,hederichi1 are both good4 ,hesperis matronalis--,rocket ,an admirable plant for use where most other plants would fail4 ,it does fairly well in semi-shady places1 at base of shrubs and in between them in open spots4 ,plants grow three to four feet tall1 of bushy form when treated well1 bearing pinkish flowers in ,june and ,july4 ,there is a white form4 ,hemerocalis--,yellow ,day ,lily ,all are good1 strong growers with narrow iris-like foliage1 producing flowers in tones of yellow4 ,h4 flava1 the sweet-scented1 deep lemon-yellow-flowered form1 is the best and must not be confounded with the coarser-flowered ,h4 fulva1 the tawny day lily4 ,hibiscus--,mallow ,all the mallows are good1 from the crimson eye to the new mallow marvels1 moderately late1 upright-growing and hardy4 ,the colors run from pure white to pinks and reds4 ,inula ensifolia ,a low-growing very hardy plant bearing freely yellow daisy-like flowers1 always presenting a neat appearance4 ,hollyhocks ,on account of the prevailing hollyhock disease--a disease of the foliage hard to combat--it is best to grow one-year-old plants1 as they are less affected than the older ones4 ,the singles are the most charming4 ,iris--,fleur-de-lis ,this is a large group1 from the bulbous ,spanish and ,english iris1 which bloom in ,june and then die down to reappear next season1 and may therefore be planted in open spaces between other plants1 to the magnificent ,japanese iris1 ,i4 ,kmpferi4 ,this latter one is somewhat fickle and does not last long4 ,the best for general planting are the ,german1 cristata1 pumilla and ,sibirica varieties4 ,pallida ,dalmatica is exceedingly fine4 ,illustration3 ,the tall-growing hardy phlox is a garden mainstay through ,august1 ,september and ,october4 ,beware of the magenta colorings ,lysimachia clethroides--,loose-strife ,an excellent plant in damp soils4 ,ponia--,peony ,every one should have them1 including the early-flowering red ,p4 officinalis1 and the later ones4 ,try a few tree peonies--,p4 ,moutan4 ,they are grafted on the ordinary form1 so destroy all suckers that come from below the union4 ,phlox ,the tall-growing hardy phlox should be in all gardens4 ,it is permanent if taken up every three years and divided4 ,strong cutting plants give the finest blooms4 ,avoid magenta colors4 ,the new salmon-pink ,elizabeth ,campbell is fine2 on light soils1 well drained1 the creeping forms are desirable4 ,pyrethrum ,the hybrids of ,p4 roseum have handsome1 daisy-like flowers in white and various shades of pink1 up to red1 in single and semi-double forms1 but they seldom live long4 ,a raised bed suits them best4 ,p4 uliginosum1 the giant white daisy1 is fine in damp situations4 ,rudbeckia ,this genus includes the well-known golden glow and ,r4 nitida var4 ,autumn ,sun1 growing five feet high4 ,it bears attractive primrose yellow flowers4 ,the giant purple coneflower1 often classed as a rudbeckia1 is really an ,echinacea1 growing three or more feet tall1 bearing reddish purple flowers and is very attractive in groups bordering a woods or shrubbery belt1 presenting a rustic aspect and remaining a long time in bloom4 ,thalictrum--,meadow ,rue ,the white form of ,t4 aquilegifolium is a very handsome plant1 doing fairly well in open shade1 flowering in fluffy masses of white4 ,veronica--,speedwell ,these are all good1 but ,v4 longifolia subsessilis is by far the finest of the taller growers1 reaching a height of three feet1 and bearing long slender spikes of deep blue flowers4 ,,some ,,of ,,the ,,best ,,plants ,,for ,,shady ,,positions ,aconitum--,monk's-hood ,acta spicata--,baneberry ,amsonia ,anemone ,pennsylvanica--,wind ,flower ,convallaria--,lily-of-the-valley ,dielytra--,bleeding-heart ,ferns ,funkia--,plantain ,lily ,hepaticas--,liver ,leaf ,thalictrum--,meadow ,rue ,trillium--,wake ,robin ,mertensia ,virginica--,virginia ,blue ,bells ,,for ,,dry ,,soils ,asclepias tuberosa--,butterfly ,weed ,aquilegia ,canadensis--,canadian ,columbine ,aquilegia alpina--,alpine ,columbine ,gypsophila paniculata--,baby's ,breath ,gaillardia--,blanket ,flower ,geranium sanguineum--,cranes-bill ,helianthus multiflorus1 fl4 pl4--,double ,mexican ,sunflower ,inula grandiflora--,flea ,bane ,inula ensifolia ,saxifraga crassifolia ,sedums--,stonecrop ,tunica saxifraga ,illustration3 ,crimson-eye hibiscus or swamp mallow1 blooming in ,august and ,september ,illustration3 ,gaillardias are at their best in the perennial form and thrive in a sandy soil ,illustration3 ,campanula persicifolia1 one of the best varieties in the bell flower family ,,for ,,wet ,,soils ,hibiscus ,moscheutos--,swamp ,mallow1 and all ,mallows ,iris pseudacorus ,sibirica--,siberian ,iris lvigata--,japanese ,iris prismatica ,lilium superbum--,turk's-cap ,lily ,lobelia cardinalis--,cardinal ,flower ,monarda--,bergamot--in variety1 ,rose ,lythrum ,salicaria--,loose-strife ,lysimachia clethroides--,loose-strife ,polygonum cuspidatum--,giant ,knot-weed ,spira--dwarf herbaceous form in variety ,,alpines1 ,,or ,,rock ,,plants ,achillea tomontosa--,wooly ,yarrow ,arabis albida--,rock ,cress ,campanula ,carpatica--,carpathian ,harebell ,coronilla varia--,crown ,vetch ,geum coccineum--,avens ,gypsophila repens--,baby's ,breath ,inula ensifolia--,flea ,bane ,phlox amoena1 in variety--,creeping ,phlox ,sedum1 in variety--,stonecrop ,tunica saxifraga ,veronica circoides--,speedwell ,yucca filamentosa--,adam's ,needle