1879.] THE PHLOX. 297 



and we shall be very glad to receive any notes on fruits that our cor- 

 respondents or readers have proved to be useful, and that excel in 



thf\ nnnlit-.v nf parlv rinpnino- 



the quality of early ripening. 



THE PHLOX. 



The merits of this family are so well known, as represented by the 

 many varieties of the late-flowering and the early-flowering sections 

 now in cultivation, that it is quite unnecessary to do more than allude 

 to these. The huge pyramidal heads of bloom borne by the finer kinds 

 of the late-flowering section, in addition to the rich colours of some 

 sorts, has somewhat eclipsed the neater growing early-flowering sorts, 

 notwithstanding the fragrance and waxiness of their flowers as com- 

 pared with the more popular section. Unfortunately, from a florist's 

 point of view, the Phlox is much too easy to cultivate. The flower- 

 loving portion of the community, as a matter of course, look on that as 

 a point in their favour ; and, accordingly, allow Phloxes, when they get 

 them, pretty well to follow their own devices, and, permitting them 

 to grow into huge herbaceous masses, they cull the diminished heads 

 of bloom, and think them lovely. 



Such an easily accommodated plant may, in consequence thereof, be 

 successfully cultivated without following rigidly any hard and fast line 

 of culture. The cottager may gain his end for securing strong young- 

 growths by dividing his old plants quite as effectually as the most par- 

 ticular of particular florists, who only condescends to grow plants which 

 are propagated at a certain season and in a certain way. Propagation 

 by division is the simplest method of rearing young flowering-plants, 

 and though in disfavour amongst those who cultivate the Phlox for 

 purposes of exhibition, it is, nevertheless, when gone about at a proper 

 time and in a proper manner, a very efficient mode of keeping up young 

 stock. The best time to propagatate by division is about the end of 

 September,— no earlier, and not much later. It is assumed that no 

 plants older than three years at most are tolerated. Such plants may 

 be broken into pieces just large enough to produce from three to five 

 strong shoots the following season. The ground intended for their 

 reception having been trenched two or three spits in depth, and man- 

 ured according to the wants of the soil or the size of the manure-heap, 

 the divided pieces are to be planted about the same depth as before, 

 and staked as the operation is proceeded with, in order to keep the 

 old stems and foliage fresh as long as possible, to secure a grip 

 of the soil to the young plants, and to mature the buds for a strong 

 start in spring. These will break away early without suffering any 

 check to the young shoots, and merely require to have the ground 

 between the plants pointed when growth has fairly commenced, at the 



