Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-03-30
Hardy Flowers.

| came in for considerable discussion in
| the lecture hall of the Horticultural
society. The discussion was introduced
by L. o. Orpet, who is head gardener
at the Eugene V. r. Thayer estate at
| South Lancaster, says the Boston
Transcript. A good part Of the session
was taken up by him in reading an
| Illuminating paper on the most desir-
| able kinds of hardy plants which may
| be used in ones garden.
Hardy plants. lie said. appeal to al
most everyone very largely on the
| ground of sentiment, for there is
scarcely one of the more familiar flow
ers that has not some particular aSsoci-
| alton with childhood days. There was
a time when hardy varieties were
rather out of fashion; but they are
| again coming to the front. and today
one finds great many more in use
| than formerly, varieties which have
beer tranSrlanted from their wild en-
vircnmeEt. 1t is most unfortunate, he
affirmed, that wild flowers are often de-
spised, for they are capable Of splendid
development and many of them are
very beautiful. There was a difference
of opinion he said, as to whether hardy
plants should be massed together or
used separately in gardens, especially
| in border effects; but it is essential that
tender plants, ANIMALS, for instance, be
| used in conjunction with hardy ones.
Of course the question of soil is of the
greatest Importance. for it is a difficult
| task to make all kinds of plants thrive
in the same soil; fox and larkspur
cfn IND ,Ia ptl,a
varieties need an impoverished soil
In all cases the soil should be
prepared quite deep, for in this
way they much better withstand a
drought. He called attention to the
| curious feeling of dislike that existed
among people for such colors as purple
and mauve; and he thought it a great
mistake that flowers of these hues were
eliminated from gardens as they some
times are.
In hardy borders bulbs are getting to
be quite popular and he instances the
narcissus of which there are many
varieties which are wonderfully vigor-
Gus. They are splendid for planting in
masses for spring blooming. OF column
bincs there are only three varieties
W HUI llt NouIu recommend LOT cuIl1-
walton. They are the common North
American species to be had in red. yell
low and blue. None of the hybrid
varieties is equal to them. Of larkspur
he did not care much for the annual
variety. but the perennals were good
and vigorous, although they were fire.
quently subject to blight which might
be overcome by careful attention.
Irises were among the very best of gar
den plants and peones have become
enormous favOriteS of late years. In
fact people are peony crazy. he said.
Garden phloX is indispensable in a
well-arranged garden: but he recon-
lnended that the flower stalks be cut
down early: if not they are apt to go to
seed and the stronger varieties crowd
out the weaker ones Hardy pyre-
thrum, he remarked was very popular
and the single ones are more advan-
tageous than the double ones. as thew
maintain their erect position after the
rain. while the other ones become top
heavy. The 1upine was another indis-
pensable variety. the only trouble with
it being that it was apt to die about the
time garden was at its height; but
TINS could be overcome by planting an
annual variety that flowers at their
best late in the season. In considering
the numerous kinds of lilies he referred
to the California species as most beau
tiful. but not adapted to the eastern
climate. There are many plants which
are commonly supposed to be hardy
which have to be carefully looked after
during the cold weather, and he in
cluded in the list the Canterbury bell
and even hollyhocks, which should al
ways be protected against frost The
coreopsis was another which needed
some similar protection.
The speaker referred to the great
number of varieties of flowers which We
are getting from China, some 5000 such
having been introduced here of late.
He believed that both Russia and
Siberia would yet prove fertile fields
for the discovery of new botanical
specimens. He paid a tribute to the
work doctors have done for horticuI-
ture. noting the fact that great MANY
surgeons have been good botanists and
there are thousands of plants the
knowledge OF which we owe to medical
men.