190 TWENTY-FIRST REPORT. 



Helleboi'us niger Jj. Phlox ovata L. 



Hydrastis canadensis L. Phlox paniculata L. 



Iris versicolor L. Podophyllum pcltatum L. 



Jasminum officinale L. Poly gala Senega L. 



Laurus nohilis L. Prunus Laur/)cera sus L. 



Magnolia fuscata Andr. Punica Oranatum L. 



Melia Azedarach L. Rosmarinus officinalis L. 



Myrtus communis L. Sanguinaria canadensis L. 



OZea europaea L. v Viburnum Opulus L. 



Panax quinqucfolia L. Viburnum pruui folium L. 

 Passi flora incarnata L. 



PUACTICAL CUI-TIVATION. 



It is necessary to study the best ways of propagating the plant one wishes 

 to grow. Sometimes this is by means of seeds, as in the case of belladonna 

 and digitalis ; at other times it is by propagation of rhizomes, as hydrastis 

 and glycyrrhiza ; or again it is by rootstocks or prostrate stems as in the 

 mints. Sometimes both seeds and cuttings niay be used as in the case of 

 hydrastis. 



Plants grown from, seeds. Most plants can be grown from seed, Mit- 

 lacher has given the results obtained with rhubai'b, valerian, poppy, matri- 

 caria, lavandula, hyoscyamus, gentian, pyrethrum, althaea, aconite, etc. When 

 plants are grown from seeds, especially if iia a temperate climate where the 

 growing season is rather short, it is necessary to begin the germination of 

 the seed early in the spring. This must be done then in the house or under 

 conditions where there is some protection. The.-:e seeds may be sown either 

 in small boxes or in teed pans, i. e., shallow, square, flower pots, in which the 

 soil is quite sandy or made up largely of bi'oken granitic rock. The soil must 

 be clean and free from organic matter which is likely to mould. The' seeds 

 should not be planted too deep and should be covered with glass so as to con- 

 dense or hold moisture. Of course, where there is the necessary attention in 

 keeping the earth moist, this glass can be dispensed with. The time required 

 in germination will vary considerably. Many seeds will germinate well within 

 two weeks ; usually about four or five weeks is necessary. 



Occasionally some seeds, as the roses, may require a year or two before 

 they germinate. The present tendency is to shorten the period of germina- 

 tion in several ways. The simplest, possibly, is to place the seeds in water for 

 24 hours. When the seed coat is somewhat resistent, germination may be 

 hastened by pouring boiling water upon them. Again, some special treatment 

 may be given them as the use of dilute or even concentrated mineral acids 



In the cultivation of mate for many years it was found that the seeds would 

 not germinate unless they had previously passed through the alimentary tract 

 of certain birds. Later it was found that the same end could be obtained by' 

 placing the seeds for a short time in solutions of hydrochloric acid. F. A, 



