_Border Bulbs_
The Salvias, grouped in the perennial border, make a fine color show.
Coming when the earlier brightness of the season has passed, their
scarlet clumps last from late August to the time of frost. Raised from
seed their flowering season is briefer, and, as the plants are
comparatively inexpensive, it is well to get their full worth by setting
out well-grown Salvia plants in early June.
The Gladiolus is another effective flower, and should find place in the
perennial borders. Plant bulbs about the middle of May, and again in
July, and thus secure a long flowering time, as a light frost does no
harm to the plant. Gladiolus prefers a light loam, or a _moist_ sandy
soil. Fresh manure will prove injurious. Mr. Allen tells us, in his book
on "Bulbs, etc.," that "flowering bulbs of this plant may be produced
from seed with a certainty of a greater variety and a chance for some
remarkable forms. There is," declares he, "no other pleasure in
gardening equal to that which comes from the growing of Gladiolus from
seed." It is claimed for the Gladiolus that if cut for decorative use
when the first flower on the stalk opens the spike will develop better
in water than if left out in the open sun. I have no experimental
knowledge of this assertion. Take up early in October, and store bulbs
in cellar.
"The Gladiolus belongs to the genera Iridaceæ. The genus contains about
ninety species, nearly all of which are natives of the Cape of Good
Hope."
The Tuberose may be used in the garden with the same effect as the
Gladiolus. Mexico is the land of its nativity, and two species make up
the genus. In a quaint old book published in 1629 and entitled "The
Garden of Pleasant Flowers" it is classed with the "Greater Indian
Knobbed Hyacinth." "I have," says Parkinson (an old-time author),
"thought it best to begin with this Jacinth (Hyacinth) because it is the
greatest and highest, and also because the flowers hereof are in some
likeness neare unto a Daffodille, although his root be tuberous, and not
bulbous, as the rest are. The Indian Jacinth hath a thicke knobbed
roote, yet formed into several heades, somewhat like unto bulbous
rootes, with many thick fibres at the bottom of them. The toppes of the
stalkes," he goes on to inform us, "are garnished with many faire,
large, white flowers, each whereof are composed of six leaves, lying
spread open as the flowers of the white Daffodille, with some short
threads in the middle, and of a very sweet scent, or rather strong and
headey."
As may be seen in the above statement the Tuberose was first known as a
"Jacinth" (Hyacinth) and was at that time a single flower. The double
variety was raised as a seedling by M. Le Cour of Leyden, in Holland,
who for many years would not under any circumstances part with a root of
it. Even if after propagating a desired quantity, there was a surplus,
he would cause every tuber to be cut in pieces and destroyed, in order
to be the only possessor of so valuable a plant, and one which he
considered the finest in the world.
The Tuberose is a gross feeder, and succeeds best in light loam, but
will grow in any moist rich soil.
Its complete requisites are heat, water, and manure. If these are
proportionate, no matter how much there may be, the plant will consume
it.
And here is an incident in Tuberose culture (backed by good authority)
where Nature, scorning slower methods of evolution, "got on a hustle"
and produced a new variety on the spot. I copy it verbatim from Mr.
Allen's book: "In 1870 John Henderson of Flushing, N. Y. (a Tuberose
cultivator), discovered growing in his field a number of plants of
strong habit of growth, and with dark broad foliage. These he determined
to keep apart from his main stock in order to see what the result would
be.
"Cultivating them in the same manner as his other Tuberose bulbs he
discovered a distinct type of dwarf habit and much larger flowers. This
he at once named the 'Pearl,' and from the then small stock the trade in
what is known as 'Excelsior Pearl' is now wholly supplied. The Pearl is
the favorite of the buyer, and takes the first place in the seedsman's
catalogue."
The Single Dahlia, flowering as it does after the early summer beauties
have had their day, is an inexpensive "stop-gap" for the perennial
border. One may plant, in late April, kept-over bulbs or propagate from
seed sown first of May, and sure to flower the same year. The Nicotiana,
though an annual, may be used freely in the perennial border. It is an
evening bloomer and opens an hour or two before sunset, and looks and
smells its divinest by the light of the full round moon. The young
plants take kindly to removal, and may, with care, be changed from seed
bed to border while flowering.