BRECK S NEW BOOK OF FLOWERS. 



THE CULTIVATION OF PERENNIALS, BIENNIALS, 

 AND ANNUALS. 



" A flowery crown will I compose — 

 I'll weave the Crocus, weave the Rose ; 

 I'll weave Narcissus, newly wet, 

 The Hyacintli 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." 



Those plants which do not in their growth form either 

 trees or shrubs, but which lose their tops, wholly or in 

 part, every year, the roots continuing to live for several 

 years successively, are called perennials. 



Biennials are those plants that flower the second and 

 sometimes the third year from the time the seeds are 

 sown, and then perish, as the Sweet Scabious. 



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 coldest 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, difierlng materially from each other in habits, re- 

 quire, consequently, a different kind of treatment. Such 

 being the case, a few remarks will be made on each kind 

 separately. 



