390 BRECK'S XEW BOOK OP FLOWERS. 



It sometimes happens, that, if the seed be left on too 

 long, the pods are apt to burst open, and scatter on the 

 ground, when numerous young plants will spring up in 

 the autumn, particularly if a little fine mould be strewed 

 on the surface around the old plants. These seedlings 

 may be taken up any time in September or the beginning 

 of October, and planted out in beds to flower in the fol- 

 lowing spring, when the finest may be selected for keep- 

 ing, and the inferior ones cast away. Several will, of 

 course, resemble the mother plant ; but there is no doubt 

 that the same pod of seed will produce many different va- 

 rieties, both in color and shade, as well as in the form and 

 size of the petal. Pansies grow very readily, and soon 

 spread widely. When the plants thus extend, the soil be- 

 ing exhausted, and the stems smothering each other, the 

 overgrown roots produce only small flowers. It is there- 

 fore necessary, in order to have fine flowers, frequently 

 to renew the plants. 



Propagation l>y Cuttings, to be successful, ought to 

 take place at the end of May or early in June. If left 

 till July or August, the success ~will be doubtful, because 

 the flower-stems get hollow and pithy. The cuttings may 

 be- placed singly in thumb-pots, in a little light sandy 

 loam and well-rotten dung, and set in a frame with a 

 moderate bottom heat, to be kept rather moist and shad- 

 ed ; or they may be stuck in the ground under a common 

 hand-glass, with coal ashes under to prevent the worms 

 casting them up ; but if placed on gentle bottom heat, the 

 glass ought by no means to be shut down close, or they 

 will be liable to damp off. 



Propagation l)y Dividing the Hoots, may be done in 

 moist weather, any time from July to September. The 

 readiest and most certain way is by layers, which may be 

 made in either of the above named months. Make an in- 

 cision in the joint near the top of the stem, which pin 



