The sun., 1919-05-04

plants during severe winter, and Is
one reason for applying a mulch Of
strawy manure to the surface of the
border in the fall. 1t Is also a matter
of routine work in the perennial gar
den to go around in the spring and
replace those plants whose roots
have been partly exposed by frost
upheavals.
The size of the border Is largely de-
terTnined by the size OF the area avail
able for gardening. In large gardens
the perennial border may be from fif-
teen to twenty feet wide and a hun
dred or more yards long. In such n
garden the border does not necessarily
assume a straight line, but may, with
advantage follow the contours of a
belt Of shrubbery. In very small
area the perennial garden may be
nothing but a narrow strip along the
boundary line, but nevertheless most
interesting and enjoyable. One of the
most delightful gardens the writer
has ever seen was made on the site
Of an old orchard and was about an
acre in extent. Many of tho trees were
yleft in place, and although as fruit
bearers they were negligible, they were
most emphatically a success along aes-
thetic lines. Their gnarled and pic
turesQue appearance was charming at
all times, but in the spring, when COW
cred with blossoms, their beauty was
enhancing. This area was bounded
by low box hedge. and supplied with
walks of irregular shaped fagstones
informally meandering in every direc-
ha nh do aztt 49, h1 4
enabled woodland plants to DO grown
to perfection. and in the open spaces
sun lovers Frightened the garden from
| spring 10 frost.
| As n general rule--of course there
ere eNceptions-the best effects cannot
be obtained in n border less than six
feet wide. i wide border gives end
| less opportunity for providing that
element of variety and surprise so
| desirable in a garden. BY bringing,
| at intervals. some Of the taller grow
| ing plants toward the front of the
| border, little bays may be formed
which serve to shelter and partly hide
smaller plants. Thus the whole beauty
Of the garden Is not revealed at once !;
as one walks along fresh subjects are
constantly coming into view to charm
the eye with their beauty and per-
chance the nose with their fragrance.
Endless combinations are possible
with the plants of the hardly garden.
| 1t is possible to have n garden peo-
pied entirely with plants having flow
ers of blue, or white, or yellow, or any
! other color found in the plant world.
| II is possible TO indulge In carefully
wrought-out color schemes or TO
| ignore these artistic considerations
altogether and simply have riot of
color Kaleidoscope in effect The
| garden may be planted so as to he at
Its best in spring, summer or fall, or
| an all-the-year garden may be
planned. Those who are regularly
away from their garden during a part
OF the year will, OF course, limit the
| plants to those kinds that bloom dur
| ing the time that they are in resi-
dence. Another of the advantages
| connected with cultivation OF hardy
plants is the fact that, given fairly
favorable conditions, they may be left
unattended during part OF the year
without much injury.
4
cases. This may consist Of tall grow
ing shrubs or a creeper clad wall. A
border should never be planted, how
ever, in such q situation that the
flowers are robbed Of moisture and
food by the rapacious roots OF trees.
In the small garden there is often
very little choice as to background,
the party fence frequently being the
limiting factor. In such cases, the
aim should be 70 make the best OF a
had Job and endeavor to clothe the
fence with suitable climbers which
will hide its usual ugliness.
| Plants Of a kind should be msssed
together in irregular drifts as much as
possible. This applies especially to
small growing plants whose beauty
Is often lost IL dotted singly through
out the garden. The grading OF the
plants as to height should not be too
rigorous. A more artistic effect Is
obtained II some Of the taller plants
are brought toward the front of the
border. This will provide variety in
the skyline OF the border and obviate