Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-01-05
GOOD WORD FOR HARDY PLANTS.
The Craze for Carpet bedding Dying
0ut-A Healthy Reaction Spring
FioNering Bulbs a Succession OF
Various Species.

The following essay upon Hardy Plants" de-
livered at a late meeting of the District Horti-
cultural Society by the veteran horticuturist
John Saul. of the Parking Commission. viii be
of general interest:
In the craze for carpet bedding of late years
hardy garden plants have been quite forgotten
and the mixed bed or border is thing of tho
past. Carpet bedding has. however. very nearly
run its course. In Europe-from which We get
many OF our fashions in flowers. as Well as other
thinES-a reaction has taken place. and some OF
their best writer's and hovticulturists of thehgh-
est standing have not only advocated, but have
really commenced a new departure, ana the
mixed flower beds are again making their ap-
pcaraace. 1t has alyays surprised me how real
lovers of plants. those who loved plants for their
individual beauty. could tolerate carpet bedding
1t is well named carpet bedding; a beautiful
carpet is quite as pleasing to look upon. and It
is about the poorest use that these beautiful
plants can be put to. Plants. which if allowed
to grow singy and develop their beauty would
be far more attractive than their present shOrn
state | am wandering from my subject and
must return to what propose taking about:
hardy plants. As the present season (autumn)
Is desirable for planting bulbs. win commence
with those. not. however. with the bulbs so cen
orally planted: hyaCilths, tulips. Sc winch
Wonid really call for separate essay, bat a
Class OF
SPRING PIONEERING BULBS
but little planted, and l may say little known TO
many. Pass through any Of our parks or
along any Of our streets where small gardens
or parkinGs abound-say the first fine DAYS in
February. just as the winter is bvoken-how few
! flowers are to be seen. ,JaS7nil3u1a nu7ilI0ru
Loniccra tragrantissma and one or two other
shrubs may be found in bloom. But scarcely n
! hardy plant or bulb can be seen vet at this very
season there are innUmerabe bulbs when If
planted will be ready to develop into beauty
-l.s- ET,r g
February. and the first CLEAN of sunshine will
call them into bloom: and
A SUCCESSION 0F VARIOUS SPECIES
can be had to carry the bloom through March
and April till our ordinary plants ana shrubs
come into bloom. | will name a few: Itre-
boTus Niger, or Christmas rose, and its varie-
ties. We have here very beautiful plant but
little grown. In Great Britain this plant is
quite hardy and blooms freely during the win
ter months. 1t Is also hardy here, but. as our
freezes are much drier than in any part Of Great
Britain, it is liable to suffer where much ex-
posed. would recommend planting it where
sheltered by u fence or house. In passing. |
would say It is an admirable pot plant and is
well worth growing in this way as a window
plant.
Chmo3ora luciiB-Glorv of the Snow. Here
is perfect gem. A spike about nine inches
high of the most delicate aZUre-bue flowers
with white eye. The beginning of February
the past season they were fully in flower with
me- This was my earliest bulb to flower. The
frost was scarcely out of the ground and snow
laying around. but. like magic, they Jumped into
full beauty. 1t is not misnamed-Giory of the
Snow, and. though praised much in foreign
Journals. IT has not been OverdOne.
LrdlttuS hyemGfS-Ninter Aconite Grows
about siNinches high. blooms during md-vlnter.
hardy, but needs shelter from the season in
which it blooms.
EiyluoniumS-Dog's Tooth Violets There
are several beautiful varieties of the common
species: dens CAMS. such as purple, white rose
colored. Americana is hardy native species
found pentlfuiiy IN the northern states, bloom
ing As soon as the ground is free from frost.
Grandiiolum is fine species from Oregon.
SCILLAS
are among our very earliest spring flowers
S:berica: a small spike OF delicate blue. This is a
we'll known bulb and Thousands Of them are now
used for forcing. There isa white variety of this
: S!berica alba; very pretty. S CampaInlata is a
taller growing species. very handsome; a little
later there Is also white variety OF this.
IRIS.
This is very extensive family and very
beautiful one. We have some blooming early in
March, as Reticulate, Pumila. TuDerosa and
others; other sections bloom during summer. as
the beautiful japanese group of Kempferii and
the well-known German Iris; Iris Susana is very
beautiful so is lberca, a species of more recent
Introduction. English and Spanish Iris are bull
b0uS rooted species. which. ifplanted in utumn.
make lovely beds; the same way tulips and
hyaclnths are grown. There is great variety in
cO0rS in these classes.
MuScGriGS. Musk and feathered hyacinths are
all early lowering dubious rooted plants. The
prevailing cOlors are shades of blue and pur-
pie. with few good white distinct varieties
FTtfiTdTids is not a large family. but it has a
few very distinct species the flowers being
curiously spotted and SO distinct.
CRoCUSEs AND SNOW DROPS.
which are known to all for their great beauty,
bloom very early On the approach of spring
They are not planted to the extent they should
be. Thousands, yes, tens of thousands, should
be planted in our public parks in lines, masses,
groups; and what more lovely than masses of
pure white crocuses early in spring, or what
more g0rgeOusly beautiful than masses of gold
en- yellow or purple.
LILY OF THE VALLEY
is properly fieshy-rooted plant. 1t succeeds
admirably in partial shade Of trees or fences.
blooming protusely.
The greater part of the list l have given re-
quire very little care in growing. They are emf
nently suited to the wild garden. l would not
recommend their being planted in the beds or
places intended for summer plants. from the
disturbed tor years.
WHERE To PLANT THEM.
/ would plant them at the base of trees. close
TO the walls of our dwellings, by the edges Of
fences, or any vacant place in the garden or
shrubbery not likely to be disturbed. If the
ground is naturally good and dry-not a wet
clay-these bulbs will grow freely; plant or 5
inches in depth, and II the planter will treat his
bulbs to little extra soil, and, after planting a
top dressing of nice rotten manure, the grateful
bulbs will repay his kindness. But that little
preparation is necessary [ can best illustrate
from my own case For years have made it a
practice in February to collect any bulbs left
over from fall sales, generally the culls, and
! plant them at the base of trees around my resi-
dence at my nursery and any other vacant
places | may see. When planted no preparation
was given. If in grass a small sod was removed.
the bulbs planted or inches in depth and the
sod returned to its place. For this little trouble
| am rewarded in early spring before the snow
has quite disappeared. with clumps and masses
of lovely crocuses, white, purple, gold and
striped delicate snowdrops and other spring
flowers.
l will now take up
HARDY PERENNIAL PLANTS
proper, plants little seen or grown. yet among
the most interesting and beautiful plants we
have. fine bed or group Of those to me is
much more interesting than the most beautiful
carpet bed. The number Of plants which come
under this head is very numerous, and in short