HARDY HERBACEOUS PLANTS. 105 
Tulip, &e. Among bulbs—Arabis alpina; Pulmonaria, several species ; 
Primrose, especially the double varieties; Polyanthus, many beautiful 
varieties ; Orobus verna, with very many Others too numerous to men- 
tion. As the season advances, larger-growing and handsomer species 
and varieties come into flower; and many of the kinds that flower in 
the height of summer, such as Aconitum, Delphinum, Lychnis, Phlox, 
Campanula, Mimulus, Lilium, &c., vie in beauty with many of the 
denizens of the greenhouse and stove. For growing upon rock-work, 
many of the perennials are admirably adapted ; Saponaria ocymoides, 
Arabis alpina and others, Aubrietia purpurea, Phlox procumbens, 
Lychnis maritima, are examples of such as are most suitable for this 
purpose. Many of those which possess trailing habits are also well 
worthy of being grown in pots, for the purpose of decorating vases, 
&¢c., when in bloom. Where a small piece of reserve ground can be 
spared for the purpose, it will be found a very useful practice to culti- 
vate a number of the most showy perennials in pots, for the purpose of 
standing in the most conspicuous parts of the garden when in bloom. 
Many, also, of the more tender kinds, that will scarcely endure the 
cold and wet of our winters in the open borders, may be preserved and 
grown in pots, and made to contribute, when in bloom, to the general 
ornament. For the preservation of many very handsome plants, such 
as Lychnis fulgens, Delphinum Barlowii, Hulmei, and Sinensis, Linum 
monogynum, and very many others that will not endure the wet of our 
winters in most parts of the country, a covering of boards, or of some 
other material that will effectually exclude the rain, is all that is neces- 
sary, full exposure being absolutely requisite at all times, except during 
rain or severe frost. ‘lhe object of this paper is not to give directions 
for the culture of these plants, but I must here be permitted to protest 
against a practice very often adopted with reference to many of the 
strong-growing perennials, namely, that of cutting round them with a 
spade when grown too large, and leaving the internal and exhausted 
part to grow, while the outer and healthier portions are destroyed. 
The more excellent way is to take off the outer portion, which con- 
tains the strongest and best buds, and if it is desirable or necessary to 
replant in the same situation, to dig up and bury deeply the old por- 
tion, and replant the part taken off upon it. 
If the hints now thrown out should be the means of reviving atten- 
tion in any instance to a class of plants worthy of notice, the object of 
the present paper will be answered. The great error into which cul- 
tivators of perennials appear to have fallen is this, that when once 
inserted in the ground they require no further attention. To this 
neglect must be attributed the scarcity and almost entire loss of many 
valuable plants; whereas, to keep up a stock of perennials, continual 
renewal must be had recourse to, either by seeds, or whatever may be 
the mode of increase of the plant concerned. Only by these means 
can a collection be maintained in vigour, and in a condition to yield 
increasing interest to the cultivator. 
