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them is done at this season it should be begun in the latter part ofAugust, if possible. The regular mulching, so necessary for all plantsset in the autumn, should not be forgotten when the winter comes on.During the summer a fine mulch of some sort may be kept on a per-ennial border to good advantage as it prevents loss of moisture, saveslabour otherwise necessary in cultivating, stops spattering of mud overthe leaves of smaller plants, and prevents baking of the soil after rains. Fertilizing Perennials and Annuals. Perennials need a greatdeal of food and should have plant food to restore soil fertility. Suchheavy feeders as phloxes and peonies should receive applications ofbone meal and liquid manure. Such applications when the plants arein bud will frequently improve the size and quality of the flowers.Manure for fall mulching will also enrich the plants. The finer partcan be worked into the beds during the spring, but care must be takennot to injure or destroy roots or smaller plants. Peonies and irises ingeneral, like all plants with thick, fleshy roots or rootstocks, are sick-ened by manure. Bone meal is perfectly safe to use and is in everyway the best fertilizer for them. On the other hand, the Japaneseirises, with their fibrous roots, revel in cow manure. They, like irislongipetala, are indifferent to lime which to all other moisture-lovingirises, with the exception of the spuria group, is objectionable. |
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