HERBS, TUBERS AKD BULBS. 309 



CHAPTER XX. 

 HERBS, TUBERS AND BULBS. 



In the following pages I purpose giving only very brief 

 hints in regard to the propagation of herbaceous, bulbous, 

 tuberous, and some suifrutescent perennial plants omitted 

 in the preceding chapters. Although the principles gov- 

 erning their growth and propagation are the same as 

 with other kinds, still it may often occur that a hint in 

 relation to some simple mode of increasing a species or 

 variety is of more value to the inexperienced than a 

 learned treatise on the subject. Certain modes of propa- 

 gation well known to one person may not be to another ; 

 consequently, in attempting to impart information in a 

 work like this, the author is obliged to presume some- 

 what upon the inexperience of his readers. As a rule, it 

 may be said that all kinds of herbaceous plants, such as 

 Carnations, Phloxes, Petunias, Verbenas, Snap-dragons, 

 and all similar kinds having stems bearing leaves, may 

 be more or less readily propagated by cuttings of the 

 tender or half-ripened shoots, placed in frames or under 

 a bell glass, where the air will be somewhat confined and 

 moist, while at the same time a moderately high tempera- 

 ture can be secured. In temperate climates this mode of 

 propagation may be practised with success in ordinary 

 hot-bed frames, without bottom or artificial heat, during 

 the summer months. 



The soft-wooded greenhouse plants, such as Geraniums, 

 Fuchsias, Lophospermums, Begonias, etc., may be in- 

 creased under the same conditions, as well as many of the 

 more succulent kinds, like the Ageratums, Alternan- 

 theras, Alyssums anct Coleuses ; but a propagating house, 

 built especially for such purposes, is always preferable to 

 cheaper structures of this kind, because of the facilities 



