When ribbon borders and massing became the rage, we all remember how quickly the old herbaceous and mixed borders were effaced from the garden. In establishments where such borders had once existed, containing hundreds of varieties of plants - many of them worthless - scarcely half-a-dozen plants are to be found; and it is absolutely true that a generation of young gardeners has risen up during the time who are entirely ignorant of herbaceous nomenclature. The days of bedding-out in its extravagance are, however, doomed; for the tide is setting in with a force in the other direction that threatens to carry all before it. This is to be accounted for in several ways: first, the ever-recurring ribbon or panelled border is becoming stale - the patterns are almost worked out; then the agitation against the bedding system is beginning to tell; and last, but not least, Mr Disraeli has given the system a death-blow in 'Lothair' by his description of Corisande's garden, which has taken the fancy of the lady section of gardeners at least. Not long ago we were told by a noble lady that ice (gardeners) could not stave it off much longer.

She had, she said, just a little bit of "her own" in her large garden, and her gardener had all the rest;* but she was sanguine of better times when he became a convert to the new taste. We could not help thinking of the tyranny of gardeners, and of the aristocrat in 'Lothair' who, his lady said, was afraid of nobody but his gardener, and he was afraid of him; and if we recollect aright, some very Jesuitical individual was employed to soften him down to a plastic condition.

* The gardener who attempts to exercise any such tyranny as is referred to here, is surely rare, and can have very little respect for his employer, and not very much for himself. - Ed.

The entire eradication of herbaceous plants from our gardens has, however, had one good effect - it has led to a sifting of the species. Before, herbaceous borders were botanical collections more than anything else - scores of plants having nothing but rarity to recommend them; but now the aim is to select the cream of the class, such as are likely to afford both a display outdoors and cut-flowers for the house. For the latter purpose the herbaceous border is invaluable, especially in places where the supply of stove and greenhouse flowers is not ample. What could be more ornamental, for instance, than some of the Iris class, and the Lilies, such as candidum, auratum, lancifolium, and others? We have been cutting heads of the two last from August up till now (November 1st) from the open border, and find them unsurpassed for large vases. Then there are the Spiraeas japonica, palmata, and venusta among the best; long-blooming and beautiful they are. The bulbous and tuberous rooted section also would almost stock a border itself. Narcissus, Hyacinths, and Tulips keep up a long display after the greenhouse stock is past and gone.

The useful and beautiful, in fact, are too numerous to mention at random; but the following list are amongst the most select of the really good herbaceous plants, and are such as we have selected within the last two years for stocking borders: -

Aquilegia, of sorts.

Delphinium formosum, and others.

Carnations and Pinks.

Liliums, auratum, lancif olium, candidum, fulgens Sappho, umbellatum, Thunbergianum grandiflorum.

Lithospermum prostratum.

Lychnis of sorts.

Erythronium dens-canis album, and purpureum niajus.

Gladiolus in variety.

Iris germanica of sorts.

Phloxes of sorts.

Cyclamens, Grcecum, hedenefolium, Europeum, and others.

Violas of sorts.

Pyrethrums of sorts.

Primulas of sorts.

Auriculas of sorts.

Ericas (hardy) of sorts.

Cheiranthus (wallflower) of sorts.

Chelone barbata Antwerpeusis.

Dianthus hybrida of sorts.

Helleborus niger maximus (Christmas rose).

Hesperis matronalis of sorts.

Tritoma grandis, and uvaria glaucescens. Thalictrum adiantiforme. Violets of sorts.

Aster amellus, and Cassiarabicus. Aubrieta deltoides. Arabis of sorts. Iberis corresefolia. Hepatica, triloba alba, coerulea, and rubra pleno. Muscari botryoides, and botryoides alba. Narcissus poeticus, and Sulphur Kroon. Scilla campanulata, alba, nutans, and rosea. Hyacinthus amethystinus. Lily of the Valley. Menziesia alba. Dielytra spectabilis. Veronica (blue gem). Arenaria verna. Polyanthus of sorts. Primroses of sorts. Daisies (double), Red, White, and Pink.

The above list, which, is simply copied from the borders without any order, does not nearly exhaust the stock of good things; but it includes the best species, and may serve as a guide to those who contemplate planting on a moderate scale. Neither have I given the varieties where they are numerous. The reader must select these himself. I may just mention the Iris and Phloxes as forming a numerous variety, many of them of great excellence. Such things as the Menziesias and Ericas are, of course, not herbaceous plants, properly speaking; but they, and many other dwarf shrubs, may very properly be added to the herbaceous border, and also Roses, Azaleas, and Kalmias, etc. All these we use as well, not forgetting even Rosemary and Lavender. In planting a border, and while looking after variety, general effect need not be lost sight of. The best plan is, first, to calculate the length of your border and the number of rows; then calculate the number of plants for each row; select the varieties according to their height and colour, and plant an equal number of each, or thereabout; planting alternately, so as to have each kind coming in in succession along the whole length of the border.

As an example, a nice and effective front row is formed as follows: Plant about 12 feet apart or more, as the case may be, nice tufts of "Golden Feather" Pyrethrum alternately with Viola cornuta, white Arabis, and crimson Daisies. These four varieties themselves produce a rich effect in early spring and summer; and if the spaces between them are filled up with Auriculas, Dog-tooth Violets, Phlox prostrata, Grape Hyacinths, Scillas, Primulas, Pansies (blue and yellow), Violets, Menziesias, dwarf Heaths, Iberis, Cheiranthus alpinus, Aubretias, Cyclamens, Lithospermum prostratum, and other and later blooming species, sufficient variety and a continuance of flower will be secured. Most herbaceous plants will thrive fairly in ordinary light garden-soil. If it is heavy it should be lightened with plenty of leaf-mould and sand; and a few species should have a little special attention in the way of peat, leaf-mould, or sand, as required, just put round their roots. Slugs also must be watched. They are destructive to many varieties, such as Phloxes and Delphiniums, etc. In our soil here, too, we have a difficulty in getting Lilium candidum to grow. It is attacked by a small grub, just as the plant begins to grow, and the stem, and often the bulb, perishes.

We are trying what planting it in sand will effect. A herbaceous border should never be dug indiscriminately. Light top-dressings forked in carefully with a steel fork, in autumn or winter, before bulbs and other things begin to move, will be sufficient in this way. During summer a hoeing occasionally will be all that is required. Raking I am no advocate for, nor a fine surface. A handy man will do all that is needful in the way of tidiness with a Dutch hoe. J. S.