HERBACEOUS PERENNIALS. 247 HERBACEOUS PERENNIALS. 



Soil. Any ordinary garden soil is suit- 

 able for herbaceous perennials ; but soil 

 that is light and easily worked, and is 

 moderately rich in humus, is more^suitable 



HELICHRYSUM BRACTEATUM (see HELICHRVSUM.) 



for these plants, taken generally, than 

 heavy, lumpy soil, although many will grow 

 even in this. 



Culture. Some plants of this class are 

 propagated by division of the roots, made 

 in February or March, just as they are 

 showing indications of making fresh growth. 

 Others may be propagated by means of 

 layers or cuttings, or raised from seed. 

 Herbaceous plants are improved, and will 

 be more healthy and sightly, and flower 

 better, if they are taken up every three or 

 four years, divided or reduced in size if 

 needful, and then separated after digging 

 the ground somewhat deeply, turning it 

 over and breaking it up thoroughly. Plant 

 firmly, pressing the earth well round the 

 collar of each plant. The borders in which 

 herbaceous plants are set should be kept 

 clean and free from weeds. The plants 

 themselves should be watered occasionally, 

 if the situation and summer draughts are 

 such as to render it necessary; those 

 requiring support from sticks should be 

 carefully staked, and when the flower stalks 

 and flowers begin to wither, they should be 

 removed. 



This comprehends nearly every thing that 



is necessary in the treatment of herbaceous 

 plants, but to this may be appended the 

 following instructions. To insure good 

 flowers, a few strong stems of such plants 

 as phloxes, asters, &c., must be secured, 

 in preference to a multiplicity of smaller 

 ones. Consequently, they require frequent 

 and severe subdividing ; the early months 

 of the year, up to April, being the best 

 period for performing this operation. 

 Others, again, such as gentians, iberis, 

 alyssums, achilleas, and similar flowering 

 plants, thrive best without being often dis- 

 turbed, and must be increased by small- 

 rooted offsets. These should be planted in 

 the reserve garden for the summer, and 

 transferred to their flowering quarters next 

 year. Double Rockets, Scarlet Lychnis, 

 Hollyhocks, and other double-flowering 

 plants, are often increased by cuttings. 

 These can generally be obtained either by 

 thinning the young shoots in the spring, or 

 by securing all that appear at the bottom 

 of the flowering-stems in the autumn. 

 Whenever taken, they should be inserted in 

 sandy soil, covered with a hand- or bell- 



HELIOTROPE (see HELIOTROPIUM). 



glass, and receive a gentle warmth until 

 rooted. If in the spring, they will of 

 course be transferred to the reserve garden 



