The Planting and Care of Hardy Perennials.

MISS GRACE E. KIMBALL, WALTHAM. (SO.  MINN.  HORT.  SOCIETY.)

The most important essential in the planting of hardy perennials is the preparation of the ground.  It must be deeply spaded or plowed and thoroughly pulverized.  While most kinds of plants will do well in any good garden soil, most gardens need more or less fertilizer to make the ground good garden soil.  So it is well at the time of spading or plowing to see that enough fertilizer is applied to insure good growth and blossom.  But care must be used that no fresh stable manure comes in contact with the roots.  If it must be used see that it is put in the bottom of the hole or trench dug for the plants, and covered several inches with earth.

When the ground is well prepared and properly fertilized comes the planting, and as many plants need somewhat different handling, it is well for one starting a garden to understand just how each kind should be set.  The iris, for instance, likes to be very near the surface of the ground.  In fact it seems to delight in pushing the earth off the fleshy part of the root and basking in the sun, while the small roots lie very close to the surface.  The oriental poppy must be planted with the crown well above the ground, or else when any moisture settles on it the crown will rot, and the plant die.  The gaillardia, larkspur and columbine should be planted about as the oriental poppy with the crowns perhaps not quite as much above the ground, while the peony should be set so that the bud is covered two or three inches.

Since fall planting of herbaceous perennials has come into prominence one can choose either spring or fall for most of their planting, as most plants do well set at either time.  But the oriental poppy does not ship nor transplant well in the spring.  It dies down after blossoming—­one may think they have lost their plants then—­and starts up again in August or September.  Just as it is starting then seems to be the safest time to plant.

August and September are considered the best months to do fall planting, although some advocate setting peonies until it freezes.  Still I think it safer to plant earlier than that.

If I were beginning a hardy garden, one that I could add to from time to time, I would try to set out in the fall plants that bloom in the spring or early summer, and in the spring those that bloom in the fall.  Nothing is gained by setting iris or peonies in the spring, for nine times out of ten they will not bloom the same season they are set, while if set in the fall nearly all varieties of either the iris or peony will bloom the next year.  On the other hand, phlox set in the spring scarcely ever fails to bloom in the late summer or early fall, and keeps it up until freezing weather.  The phlox, however, should be taken up and divided every two or three years to obtain the best results.