252 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTUHAL SOCIETY. 



PKOPAGATIO.N. 



You can make root divisions of very large roots or you can grow them 

 from seed. The best way is to get one or two-year old plants which have 

 long white roots like Icicle radishes, when you will have a profusion of 

 flowers the same year, or you can grow them from seed planted in the 

 spring after danger of frost is over. 



Oriental Poppy ( Papavei: ) . 



Many poppies are annuals; w^e will not treat of these. The marvelous 

 oriental species is a native of Armenia and was introduced in 1714. It 

 has been familiar to American people many years. It is growing in popu- 

 larity and favor with wonderful strides. The flowers are of brilliant 

 flame color, of dazzling splendor, often six to nine inches across. A mass 

 of them is like a miniature sea of fire. They have been known to bloom 

 from the same root for twenty years. They bloom with the peonies and, 

 while the individual flowers do not last but a few days, there is such a 

 succession of them the period of blooming will last for weeks. Inside the 

 flower is some of natiire's marvelous painting. There is the immense 

 seed pod surrounded by delicate, tremulous stamens, also patches or 

 squares all done up in jet. Of late years there have been developed strik- 

 ing variations. The Parkmani and Menelick are mahogany. Then we 

 have the Salmon colored and Silver Queen, making a rich and charming 

 variety. As the latter are sports or variations you are not always sure 

 of what you get from seed, so they are as yet quite expensive. It is 

 disappointing to have gorgeous flowers with great seed-pods and not a 

 seed in them. This seems the fate of the highest developed flowers. The 

 great double peony, the perfect carnation and the full massive double rose 

 have reached the limit and seldom reproduce themselves from seed. 



PROPAGATION. 



They are often multiplied by root division. When a root is several 

 years old you will find it has divisions which can be separated and 

 planted. Those that cannot produce are increased in this way. 



It is a little difficult to grow them from seeds. If we should send out 

 a dozen packages to as many different persons probably not more than 

 one could succeed. Our springs are usually dry and the seeds are very 

 small. Sow them under a lath screen, cover lightly with burlap and 

 water that every night. Watch carefully and when the tiny plants 

 appear take off the burlap at night and not expose the tender things to 

 the full light of day at once. Keep on your lath screen and water as 

 needed. 



The Platycodon. 



These are very hardy and the flowers are beautiful as well as good 

 keepers. The name is compounded from platys (broad) and kodon fbelH: 

 broad or wide open bell. They grow readily from seeds and the plants 



