i2 4 POPULAR GARDEN FLOWERS 



hybrids, for they will have a beautiful display of flowers 

 in late spring. 



Propagation. The grower of Columbines learns from 

 observation that they do not possess a spreading, fibrous 

 root-stock, like, for example, Michaelmas Daisies and 

 Sunflowers ; but form a hard, knotty stock. For this 

 reason they do not lend themselves to propagation by 

 division, although I have resorted to this method of 

 increase on occasion, driving a sharp spade clean 

 through the centre just as the growth started in spring. 

 But the plant comes so readily from seed that division 

 is uncalled for except in the case of double varieties. 

 As a matter of fact, the Columbines sow themselves. 

 The bees buzz around them busily in June, and a few 

 weeks later one sees the peculiar pointed pods dis- 

 charging their seeds. A word of warning as to this. 

 The hybrid Columbines of the seedsmen are highly 

 bred, and they soon deteriorate in quality when left to 

 Nature ; if it is desired to keep the flowers up to the 

 highest standard, the self-sown seedlings should be 

 weeded out every few years, and a new stock of plants 

 raised from fresh seed. 



The Columbines certainly have a good notion of 

 making themselves comfortable in any quarters which 

 they like. I have cleared an herbaceous border to make 

 a shrubbery, been sure that every particle of growth 

 has been removed, and had the soil deeply dug, but 

 a Columbine has come up here and there among the 

 shrubs the following season, and, enjoying the good 

 fare and the partial shade, has grown into a sturdy 

 specimen. Although they grow vigorously in strong 

 loam and clay as, indeed most plants do they like 

 chalk, and will make surprisingly tall growth and flower 

 profusely in comparatively poor soil overlying limestone. 



