PROPAGATION AND CULTURE 67 



hardy, and the means of propagating it are so simple, 

 that there really is no reason why it should not be more 

 generally grown. 



PROPAGATION AND CULTURE 



There are two ways of propagating it one by seed, 

 the other by root cuttings. As the seedlings make good 

 material for root propagation, I will deal with them 

 first. 



March is a good time for sowing. As a good pre- 

 paration of the land is necessary, I will assume that 

 a piece of ground has been selected ; the stronger and 

 richer the soil the better will be the results. The soil 

 having been manured well with dung early in the winter, 

 well dug, and left in a rough state to pulverise, at any 

 time in March the seed may be sown in drills about two 

 inches, deep. The distance from row to row will de- 

 pend upon ultimate requirements ; if for permanent beds 

 eighteen inches apart will be an excellent distance, for 

 then every other row can be removed, and the per- 

 manent plants in the rows can be left about two feet 

 apart. This is for ultimate forcing on the beds a 

 matter which will claim attention later on. 



When these seedlings have made a few leaves they can 

 be transplanted thickly in rows, say a foot apart, and nine 

 inches from plant to plant, and so left till the autumn or 

 winter. If these plants are not required for any other 

 purpose they will make excellent material to furnish 

 cuttings, which is the general plan selected for propaga- 

 tion, as I find that the younger the plants the better and 

 healthier the roots appear to be for this purpose. Yet for 

 permanent beds, where plenty of roots can be had, I never 

 advocate seedlings, for really none can surpass a plant 

 grown from a piece of healthy root on well prepared 



