INTRODUCTION. Ixv 



put in a cold frame. They will be longer before they 

 can bear the influence of the outer air, and the process 

 of inuring them to it must be more cautiously gone 

 about. If, however, a compartment of the warm frame, 

 or a supplementary heated frame or hand-light, can be 

 devoted to them, there will be less trouble and more 

 advantage every way, for it is doubtful whether the 

 greater risk that is incurred is compensated for by any 

 considerable quickening of the germination, unless it can 

 be followed up by the same stirring treatment through- 

 out the earher stages of the growth of the seedlings. 



There are many gardens that are not provided with 

 glass of any kind to devote to the rearing of hardy peren- 

 nials, and there are many cottagers and amateurs whose 

 means may not admit of the appliances necessary to carry- 

 ing out the foregoing details, and in these cases there 

 is no choice but to do the best they can in the open air. 

 It has been already remarked that there is little occasion 

 for hampering ourselves or our means with the more com.- 

 mon or less intrinsically valuable of hardy perennials. 

 But with all kinds to which any special value attaches 

 it is necessary to take measures that will insure the 

 greatest amount of success, and for this reason I would 

 advise sowing such in pots, even when they are to be 

 raised in the open air. A well-sheltered spot should be 

 chosen which will enjoy a large amount of sunshine, and 

 a good bed of ashes be made up, somewhat deeper than 

 will be required, for the pots to be plunged in, in order 

 to provide against worms finding an easy entrance into 

 them; and the sides may be kept up by rough boarding, 

 bricks, or anything else more handy that will serve the 

 purpose. The pots may be plunged in this when sown, 

 and some means adopted to provide shading and immu- 



