REMARKS ON THE CULTIVATION OF PEREN- 

 NIALS, BIENNIALS, AND ANNUALS. 



" A flowery crown will I compose 

 I'll weave the Crocus, weave the Rose ; 

 I'll weave Narcissus, newly wet, 

 The Hyacinth and Violet ; 

 The Myrtle shall supply me green, 

 And Lilies laugh in light between ; 

 That the rich tendrils of my beauty's hair 

 May burst into their crowning flowers, and light the painted air." 



PERENNIALS are those plants which do not in their growth 

 form either trees or shrubs, but which lose their tops, wholly 

 or in part, every year, after they have done flowering; the 

 roots continuing to live and generate for several years suc- 

 cessively. 



Biennials are those plants that flower the second and some- 

 times the third year from the time the seeds are sown, and 

 then perish, as the Hollyhock. 



Imperfect Perennials continue three or more years, and then 

 die, as the Sweet William or Fox Glove, but which, with a 

 little care in dividing the roots every year, can be kept many 

 years. 



Perennials are hardy, half-hardy, and tender. Hardy 

 perennials stand the hardest winter without protection ; half- 

 hardy require to be well protected; and tender perennials 

 must be kept through the winter in the green-house. 



Perennials are of two kinds, bulbous and herbaceous, which, 

 differing materially from each other in habits, require, conse- 

 quently, a different kind of treatment. Such being the case, 

 a few remarks will be made on each kind separately. 



