PROPAGATION 



the leaves and stems should be cut off to the 

 ground. This prevents the rapid softening of 

 the roots, a shock to the plant from which it must 

 recover before it starts to grow again. The soil 

 should be removed and the roots divided with a 

 sharp knife into pieces containing from three to 

 five strong buds or eyes, with a generous pro- 

 portion of fleshy root. I find that a hunting knife 

 with a six-inch blade is safe to use and has the 

 requisite strength for the work. 



Scarce and valuable kinds are cut into smaller 

 pieces so that only one bud is allotted to each 

 piece. If such a fine division is made the new 

 plant should be placed in a cold frame for the 

 first year, as much to keep track of the valuable 

 root as to protect it: such procedure, however, 

 is not an absolute necessity. 



One should be warned against too minute or 

 too frequent division. Roots so divided seem 

 to lose their vitality : it may be a long time before 

 they bloom, if they do not succumb entirely. 



If in the work of dividing roots of fine vari- 

 eties some of the fleshy pieces are broken off near 

 the crown, it is well worth while to save them. 

 The upper part of a fleshy root or " finger " will 



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