FLOWEItS. 113 



keep the earth moist. Such parts of herbaceous plants 

 should be taken for cuttings, as do not show a tendency to 

 flower. If the cutting be planted in a flower-pot, place the 

 pot in the earth, in a shady place, and cover the cutting 

 with an inverted glass, for a short time, to preserve a moist 

 atmosphere about it. If they send out roots, they will also 

 send out branches, otherwise they die. 



Layers are branches left on the parent plant or shrub, 

 and bent down, and fastened several inches (according to 

 the case) below the surface of the earth, leaving the ex- 

 treme part out of the ground. A flat stone, placed on the 

 earth immediately above the layer, is useful to beep the 

 earth cool, and to retain the moisture. When they have 

 taken sufficient root, sever them from the parent stock, and 

 at any proper time they may be transplanted. . 



As to the cultivation of herbaceous plants and shrunfc in 

 pots, a few directions may be necessary. The earth should 

 be kept moderately moist. The mould on the top should 

 be dry before additional water be given. The pots should 

 be frequently turned round, or the plants will grow crooked 

 by reason of their inclining towards the sun or light. If 

 the plants are to stand in pots, year after year, the balls of 

 earth should be taken out in October, and" the sides and 

 bottom shaved oft' with a sharp knife, to the depth of an 

 inch, more or less, according to the size, and then replaced, 

 and the pot rilled with some fresh compost or very rich earth 

 made very fine. Two thirds of good rich earth and one 

 third of old rotten yard-manure, well incorporated, make a 

 good compost for most plants, except the bulbous-rooted, 

 which*equire some sand. ^ 



Protection during the winter. Herbaceous plants in gene-r^ ' 

 ral require some slight covering during the severity of a 

 northern winter. Pine boughs, straw, old coarse hay, or 

 leaves, are useful for this purpose, and may be removed 

 about the first of April or before, if the weather will permit. 



BULBOUS FLOWER ROOTS. No class of plants is 

 more interesting, perhaps, than this ; yet merely an outline 

 of the mode of cultivation must suffice. 



Situation. A southern exposure, not too wet nor too dry, 

 sheltered from the north and north-west winds, is proper for 

 most bulbous roots. 



Soil. Bulbous flower roots do best in a soil composed 

 of one third sand, one third old rotten yard-manure, and one 

 third good rich earth, well pulverized and mixed together; 

 and if a small proportion, say about one fourth, of decomposed 







