MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN BULLETIN 195 
sun and the drying winds, both during the summer and 
winter, should be sought. This factor is even of greater im- 
portance than the soil, which should be a well-drained, peaty 
loam with an abundance of moisture and lack of limestone. 
During the summer water should be applied regularly to 
keep the roots in healthy condition. A top dressing of cow 
manure is also beneficial, but cultivation of the ground 
should not be resorted to, because the roots grow near the 
surface and injury will result. In the fall the ground should 
be covered with a mulch of leaves, hay, or other material 
which will keep the frost out. This mulch may be left on 
during the summer, especially if the plants are not large 
sicieh to shade the ground. After flowering the shriveled 
flowers should be removed to prevent the formation of seed, 
this treatment tending to force growth into the foliage and 
preparing the plants for extensive bloom the following 
spring. 
The conifers are propagated chiefly by seed. The cones 
of most of them ripen in the fall and should be gathered at 
that time. They generally open up upon ripening, although 
in some cases heat must be applied to secure the seed. These 
are usually sown in May in finely pulverized, rich, sandy 
soil, and covered to a depth of 4%—%4 inch in rows 6 inches 
apart. If a mulch of pine needles or straw is placed in be- 
tween the rows, the necessity for — and weeding will 
be reduced. The seeds do not need much moisture for ger- 
mination, but as soon as the seedlings appear, they should 
be watered well and shaded to prevent burning by the sun 
and drying by the wind. Lath or canvas shades are the most 
desirable, these being removed upon cloudy days and towards 
the evening to prevent too close an atmosphere and conse- 
quent “damping off.” A modification of this method of 
planting consists of sowing freshly ripe seeds thinly in pots 
or pans of peat or sphagnum moss, which are placed in a 
cold-frame over winter. The seedlings will germinate the 
following spring, when they should be transplanted to the 
lath houses. 
The retinosporas, arbor-vitaes, and spruces are often pro 
agated by mature cuttings in the fall. Cuttings of the 
entire season’s growth, cut to a heel, should be obtained in 
October or November and placed in sand in a cool green- 
house, gentle bottom heat being given in the spring. As soon 
as the roots are formed, the plants should be potted singly 
and grown in a close atmosphere until established. The 
should then be placed in the cold-frames over winter wi 
some protection, and planted out in the spring. The spruces 
