146 

 PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS 



TO THE CATALOGUE OP 



BIENNIAL S? PERENNIAL FLOWER SEEDS, 



The remarks preceding our Catalogue of Annuals, will 

 With few exceptions, apply to that of Biennials and Peren- 

 nials ; and it may be observed further, that the circulation of 

 the sap in roots and stalks of plants, is influenced by like 

 causes, and subject to the same vicissitudes as the germin- 

 ation of seed, which principle is exemplified by some plants 

 of various species putting forth their leaves and flowers at a 

 later period than others in the same location, as if waiting 

 for nature to replenish the earth with food adapted to their 

 respective requirements ; which by the gradual changes 

 from cool to temperate, and from that to warm weather, 

 is effected to that degree as to enable all the various species 

 of plants, collected from every climate and soil under the 

 Sun, to reward the industrious cultivator, by a gradual exhi- 

 bition of their fascinating blossoms, and a distribution of their 

 odoriferous sweets, throughout the three propitious seasons 

 of the year, i.e. Spring, Summer and Autumn. 



In designating Biennials from the Perennials, I have only 

 marked such as are apt to die after once blossoming, and 

 which can only be renewed from seed. Some of those spe- 

 cies, frequently classed with Biennials, as Aquilcgia or 

 Columbines, Diantkus, &c. are in reality Perennial, and 

 may be easily perpetuated from year to year, by suckers, 

 layers, or any of the ordinary methods of propagation ; and 

 here I would observe, that frequent renewal of the roots of 

 Perennials, is absolutely necessary to their prosperity or very 

 existence ; and also that many species, are by nature best 

 adapted for propagation at the footstalks, from their yielding 

 little or no seed at the top of the plant. This is particularly 

 the case with choice double-flowering plants, the roots of 

 which, in many cases, constitute the seed ; these conse' 

 quently must be perpetuated by root offsets, cuttings, &c. 



