SPRING FLOWERS. 33 



exist without these gay and modest flowers. The 

 leaves appear after the flower has past away. 



The Polyanthus blooms among the early tribe. 

 In planting this flower, be careful to insert the roots 

 deep in the soil, so that the leaves may rest upon 

 it, for the roots are produced high upon the stem, 

 and those roots must be enabled to shoot into the 

 soil. The polyanthus, like almost every other 

 flower, loves a good soil, with a mixture of sand. 



In dividing these fibrous-rooted perennial plants, 

 take only the strong offsets, with plenty of fibres 

 attached to them. 



Polyanthuses, auriculas, double daisies, double 

 camomile, London pride,' violets, hepaticas, thrift, 

 primroses, gentianella, &c., succeed well, taken up 

 and divided in September,, for they will all have 

 done flowering by that time. Indeed all perennial 

 fibrous-rooted plants may be taken up in October, 

 to have their roots parted, and the soil refreshed 

 round them. 



Peonies, arid all knob-rooted plants, should be 

 taken up in October, to part their roots and trans- 

 plant them to their intended positions. 



The saxifrage has very small roots, which are 

 apt to be lost in borders, if not very carefully look- 

 ed after. Like the anemone, &c., sift the earth 

 well for them. 



Dahlias require a word or two upon their cul- 

 ture. They love sand, therefore allow them plenty 

 of it, but do not put manure to their roots, which 

 throws them into luxuriant leaf and stem, to the 

 deterioration of the flower. Peat mould is good if 

 you can obtain it, to mix with the sand, as it assists 

 the flower in developing stripes and spots. Train* 

 each plant upright, upon one stem only, and give 



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