The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-04-22

often happens that those old stand bys, the hardy perennials, are over looked. They are neglected, not be- cause they are not wanted, for every one appreciates them, but because even when left altogether to them selves they struggle along and make some kind of a showing.
 For the best results, of course, some care must be given, as the per ennials are not different from other flowers in their plant food require meats. even though they are tough enough to stand 0 great deal of abuse. No one should be satisfied with a few half sized flowers on stems with insect ravaged or dis eased foliage, when good blooms may so easily be had in return for little care.
 Soon after the perenntals begin to send up the new growth which shows that they are getting ready to do their part in making the garden beautiful again, they should be care fully gone over and all remains of last years growth removed. There will be dead leaves, pieces of broken stalks and other trash which may have served some purpose in Rrotect- ing the crowns of the plants through
  be taken away AND BURNED, thus destroying insect eggs, disease spores etc, which may have been harbor- ing in them. If the plants were properly cut off last fall and mulch ed for the winter, the mUlching should be removed before the new shoots make their way up through it, so that they will not be drawn up" and weak and tender.
 While many of the perenDials root Roar the surface, it is possible by working carefully to go over the bed tor around the individual plants and thoroughly loosen up the soil to a depth of several inches. For this work a small prong hoe, of the type which has been advertised exten- sively during the last few years, will be found much more convenient than either the spading fork or an Ordin- ary hoe.
 With very few exceptions the per SnniaIs, if left year after year in the same place, will increase to such an extent that they become over crowd ed and the result is a weak growth and few small flowers. To get an abundance of fuN-sized bloom it is necessary to repIant every few years. The sooner in the spring this work is done the better, but it can be done almost any time until the plants be- gin to show bud. If the work is done promptly and carefully the plants will be checked very very little. Such flowers as one already has enough of can be simply taken up and the clumps Of roots either divided. or cut in several parts with Q SHARP spade or turf edger, and the hRzt AT nj of Teplanted. If is better to put them into a fresh position if possible but that is not necessary. In either case, of course, plenty of fertilizer should be used to insure an abundant growth for two or three years more For this purpose a forkful of well rotted manure and a handful of ground bone, or bone and tankage mixed together. should be employed. Do not merely prepare a small hole big enough to take the root to be planted. but dig up and enrich a gen. erous sized space
 In resetting the plants great care should be taken to make the soil about the roots very firm and com pact If this is done. and water is used in the bottom of the hole when setting the plants, they will be put back little, if any. The marked i'm provenent in the number and qual- lty of the flowers obtained will more than repay the little work involved If possible, this replanting should be done on a rainy or at least a cloudy day, or late in the afternoon. If the weather should come off very hot and bright after the replanting, it 1s an easy matter to shade the plants if top growth has started to any ex- tent. with a few sheets of newspaper held in place by a couple of shovel 31ls of soil
 Incidentally, ono of the best ways of increasing ones collection of per enrials is to exchange the surplus plants-which you have gained by replanting-with some neighbor who may have varie ties which you do not have. A large part of the enjoy ment to be had in growing any flow CT is to get as big a collection as pos siole of the different varieties obtain able. It is quite remarkable how slow some people are to realize tha the splendid newer varieties which they see at shows and flower exhibi- lions, or fin the nurserymen's cata- logues and plate books can be grown by them just as successfully as the old varieties which they have had for years. Keep up with the new things and get the full amount ot pleasure out of your garden
 If the perennfals which have beer planted only two or three years, ol which have been neglected and are starved and choked with grass in stead of being over crowded, they will not need replanting, but the ground in which they grow should be thoroughly fertilized by routed man. ure and fertilizer dug in as deeply at possible about the roots. No peren. nia1s can be expected to thrive whez a tough sod is allowed to grow uI close around or even over the 'crown," and yet one frequent! comes across plants in Just such neg /Iected condi ton. Peonies are an ex ception to the general rule and i properly cultivated and fertilized vii continue to bloom generously fol many years without being disturb ed Frequently peonies fail to flower a: they should because the roots were originally planted too deep. If you have plants which seem healthy bu do not bloom freely try the expert ment of changing them and plantins