Irises, Phloxes, Marigolds, and Dahlias. 49 Some of the bright annuals, as Zinnias, Marigolds, and Nasturtiums, will be at their best. The Dahlias will show their wealth of color; but with these we should have Sunflowers in abundance, the hardy Asters, the more modest Irises in flower. The White Japanese Iris, with its crape-like texture, is one of the loveliest flowers of summer. Every garden should have a border of the bulbous Spanish Irises, which, in shades of yellows, browns, and blues, appear even earlier than the German section. Japanese Anemones (white and pink), The Siberian Irises, with their grass-like foliage and numerous blue flowers, are very hardy and attractive plants. The Japanese Irises and the Yellow Flag (I. pseudacorus) should be grown in wet places, or at least have liberal supplies of water. The hardy Phloxes are very showy, well-known plants, which should be often divided and replanted. The moss y Phloxes are beautiful carpeting plants in the early year. Other fine, lowgrowing plants are the hardy Candytuft, the hardy Thymes, the Rock Cress, numerous dwarf Sedums, and the red and purple Aubrietias. These are especially charming in rocky places, over which they can trail. An old-fashioned garden was never complete without its tub plants. There was certain to be a nice little tree of Lemon Verbena, an African Lily (Agapanthus umbellatus); later, Guernsey Lilies (Vallota purpurea). The Pomegranate was often a favorite, or perhaps an Oleander had an honored place. In more formal places these are often replaced by the Agave or masses of plants in urns or vases. Late in the year the garden should show great masses of brilliant colors. VOL. II.-4 White Herbaceous Phlox. and later, in sheltered places, the Chrysanthemums. The double, hardy Sunflower is a most showy and serviceable plant. The single-flowered kinds are also very attractive and useful, the best of these being H. multiflorus, H. latiflorus, H. orgyalis, and, latest of all, the Maximilian's Sunflower. Among the brightest of fall flowers are the perennial Asters, or Michaelmas Daisies. Our meadows are so full of these flowers toward the end of the year that they are somewhat neglected in gardens, more from the fact, possibly, that it is not generally known that there are many very fine forms which are worthy of a place in any garden. At present they are much appreciated by foreigners, who cultivate many kinds that are quite unknown to us. The flowers are usually borne in great profusion, and in color range from pure white through the mauves to purples of various shades. The Japanese Anemones are indispensable in the fall garden. The white form is a flower of perfect purity of color. Succeeding the Asters, the Japanese Chrysanthemums end the season in great glory. In this latitude there are few Chrysanthemums which can be flowered safely out of doors, even in sheltered places, without overhead protection. But in sheltered places the little Pompons and the old-fashioned Yellow Chrysanthemums will usually give satisfactory results, though no attempt should be made to cultivate them very highly when grown for such use. Where shelter can be given with sufficient warmth to keep off any frost, there are no more satisfactory plants than the Chrysanthemums. They are easily grown, and produce a greater wealth of handsome flowers than any other plant in gardens. The ornamental Grasses are too seldom grown in gardens. The variegated Ribbon Grass is often the only representative of the family. Our smaller native wild grasses frequently vie in beauty with the exotic kinds that may be cultivated from seed. Usually, the nobler grasses will give the most satisfaction, since they are extremely graceful and ornamental. The narrow-leafed Eulalia gracillima univitata is one of the handsomest; neat, compact, and graceful. This makes a growth of about three feet, as does the striped or variegated Eulalia. The Zebra Grass is a larger Eulalia, more than six feet high, with curious light lateral markings. Pampas Grass (Gynerium argentum) is the handsomest of tall grasses. A wellestablished clump of this appears as a fountain of foliage capped, later in the season, by handsome plumes. This is not very reliable in this latitude. Erianthus Ravenna sometimes replaces it, but is a poor substitute. The Giant Reed (Arundo donax), "the reed shaken by the wind" of Scripture, is a coarsegrowing grass, and under good culture attains the height of twelve feet. The variegated variety is a much dwarfer plant and is not so coarse. The Japanese Bamboos are becoming very popular, and when well grown are very distinct in effect, and graceful. They are hardy in this latitude, but are better adapted to culture in more southern locations. Here they are charming additions to collections of foliage plants in the greenhouse. The grasses should be used more in subtropical effects in beds and backgrounds. Their foliage will emphasize the broader foliage of the plants so generally used. Cannas are the most fashionable plants for these beds at present. The modern dwarf kinds are appreciated for their free flowering habit in combination with handsome foliage. The tropical. Crotons are the most brilliant of bedding plants, well-grown specimens making an unequalled display. The Egyptian Papyrus also is as effective in the border as in ornamental water. The subtropical bedding will often be rendered more effective by the use of the Palms and decorative plants which furnish the conservatory in winter. Where a small space only can be afforded in a garden, no plants will give greater satisfaction than the Aquatics. A water-garden is a perfect delight to the flower lover, and a constant source be made for overflow by connection may be planted in boxes or tubs, this either with sewer or cesspool. A planting being rather preferable in a garden hose is useful in replacing small tank. It is well in first planting water and clearing the water when not to cover too deeply with water. covered with leaves or débris. A tank Aside from the removal of ripe and Aquatic Plants. which should be removed as fast as it appears. It is in thread-like green masses, which will adhere to a stick if rotated, and it may be thus removed. A small collection of Pond Lilies should include the white Odorata, also the pink Cape Cod variety; the yellow Chromatella, and the purple Zanzibar species. The European white Pond Lily (N. alba candidissima), is not fragrant, but will blossom during the entire season, and for this is preferable to our native Lily, though this is fragrant and more readily secured. For those who wish a variety there are numerous other Pond Lilies in various shades ranging from faintest flesh to carmine. A water-garden is scarcely complete without the Egyptian Lotus, which offers no difficulty in cultivation, and in leaf and flower is one of the choicest and most distinct of hardy plants. Its form is now familiar to most plant fanciers; but it has perennial charms which never fail to attract when naturalized in one's garden. The best water-plants to grow with the Pond Lilies are the Cape Pond - weed 53 wet places in which can be grown many dainty plants-hardy Orchids, Pitcherplants, Irises, and, in fact, numerous moisture loving things which show their charms usually only in our swamps and wet meadows. Such a garden, well planted, offers at all times Michaelmas Daisies. (Aponogeton), the Purple Pond weed pleasures quite out of the common(Eichornia), the Yellow Water - poppy, Parrot's Feather, the Arrow-heads, and the Egyptian Papyrus, or paper reed, for taller plants. It remains to be said that the watergarden should be given the warmest, sunniest place available. Under larger conditions, where one has more space, and perhaps a natural pond, water-gardening offers fascinating possibilities to the lover of nature. On the borders of such waters can be arranged bogs or place order. The tank offers no opportunities for such plantings, as its borders are the driest places in the garden. These bogs may have one or more sides backed by noble grasses, something, in fact, which will not be trodden down, for the Lily tank never fails as an universal attraction to young and old, and its margins are usually well-beaten paths. Cold frames and some form of glasshouse are almost indispensable in a |