THE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY OF NEW YORK 



fleshy or tuberous roots. The eyes or buds are all on the crown, 

 that is, on the base of the old stalk, the base of last year's stem. 

 If a root is broken oft' at the neck and planted, no shoot ever 

 comes from it, even though it may send out little fibrous roots 

 and remain alive in the ground all the season. So, in dividing a 

 cluster for planting, it is essential to get a piece of the crown or 

 last year's stem, attached to each root. If the buds have not 

 already started at the time of making the divisions, it is desirable 

 to get a good-sized piece of the crown with each division, and even 

 then one runs a risk of getting a piece that will never start a shoot. 

 But it very commonW happens that buds or shoots have already 

 appeared before planting time, so one can see just what to do in 

 order to divide a cluster in such a way as to insure the presence 

 of at least one vigorous bud for each division, or the shoots may 

 be forced a little by keeping the roots in moist moderately warm 

 earth for two weeks or so before the planting date. 



It is a good general rule to put the roots or plants three feet 

 apart each way, though some of the small pompons do not require 

 so much room and when planted in a single row, well lighted on 

 all sides, even the most luxuriant varieties may be put as close 

 as two and a half feet, giving in their full development, a con- 

 tinuous hedge-like effect. On the other hand, some of the more 

 vigorous kinds, when grown in the field and on good soil, require 

 a four-foot interval or special provision for paths, if one is to 

 avoid the breaking of branches by visitors and flower-gatherers 

 in the latter part of the season. 



In planting, it is well to dig a hole or trench one or two feet 

 deep, remove all stones of any considerable size, put in a shovel- 

 ful of well-rotted stable manure six or twelve inches from where 

 the root is to be placed, mix it in well with the soil, and, if one 

 has any doubts as to the fertility of the soil, add also a small 

 handful of bone-meal or commercial fertilizer. The root should 

 be laid down sidewise, in stable equilibrium, — not stood on end. 

 It should be placed about six inches below the general surface, 

 but should be covered only about two inches at first, drawing in 

 the soil about the young shoot as it comes up, finally leaving the 

 general surface level or slightly concave for convenience and 

 economy in watering. 



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