25 



Culture. These are plants that require little trouble in their cul- 

 tivation, and which succeed in almost any soil or situalion. They 

 are capable of being propagated by seeds and by parting the roots. 



In the first method the seeds should be sown as soon as they are 

 perfectly ripened in the autumn, upon a bed of light fresh earth in a 

 warm aspect. The plants will rise in the early spring months, and 

 after being kept clean during the summer, may be transplanted into 

 fresh beds in the succeeding autumn or spring, at the distance of six 

 inches from each other, and in the following autumn be planted out 

 in the situations where they are to remain. But it is probably a bet- 

 ter practice to remove the plants from the seed-bed into the places 

 where they are to continue, as in this way they grow with more vigour. 

 The third sort can only be raised from seeds, which should be sown, 

 in the autumn; and the plants, when they have put out three or four 

 leaves, be removed into the places where they are to grow. 



In the latter mode the slips or parted roots may be planted out, 

 either on beds or in the places where they are to grow, in the autumn 

 or early spring. In the former case the plants are usually allowed a 

 summer's growth before they are removed. In either way the tops 

 of the roots should be covered three or four inches with mold. They 

 usually flower in the following summer. 



The first species multiplies rapidly by roots, but the second more 

 sparingly, and does not bear transplanting so well, as it is rendered 

 more weak in its flowering. 



The variety with white flowers is less hardy than either of these 

 species. 



In severe winters it is useful to protect the roots by the applica- 

 tion of tan or stable-dung; and the stems should be annually cleared 

 away when they begin to decay in the autumn. 



These plants afford considerable variety, when properly inter- 

 mixed wjth others of the flowering hardy kinds in the borders and 

 other parts of pleasure-grounds, producing a good effect from their 

 continuing long in blow. 



