138 3MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



coiitinutHl from the same root for a series of years. In their wild 

 state they are found growini; on hills, in valleys, and on plains. 

 They are b}' far the easiest plants to cnltivate, as they will grow 

 in any ordinary soil and sitnation. Only a very few reqnire an}' 

 shade whatever; even those that natnrally grow in deep and 

 shaded woods can stand the full sun in cultivation and are even 

 more vigorous and floriferous than in tiieir native haunts. 



They can be propairated by different metlK^ds ; the most natural 

 one is that from seed, which should be sown in December or Janu- 

 ary, in pots or pans, and kept in a cool and dark place until it 

 germinates. The young plants should then be transplanted into a 

 light and cool greenhouse or frame, and subsequently, when large 

 enough to handle, potted singly ; and iinall}-, in April, planted 

 out in their proper places. 



Plants of this class (except those that have long tapering roots) 

 are also readily [jropagated b}' division. This operation should be 

 perfortned in the autumn ; the plants should be carefully cut so 

 that each portion has a few good roots attached ; then they should 

 be planted in some light sandy soil in a cool frame, where they 

 should be kept until spring, by which time thej' will begin to form 

 fresh roots, and if then planted out will grow along without any 

 interruption. 



Another way of propagating is by cuttings ; these must be taken 

 from the plants just when tlrey begin to grow or after flowering is 

 over ; using portions of the soft lateral branches. These cuttings 

 should be inserted in pots or boxes tilled with a mixture of sand 

 and leaf-mould, and kept in a cool shaded frame until rooted, when 

 they should be [)otted singly in three-inch pots, and (inall}' planted 

 out the following spring in the places where they are desired. 



The hardiness of these plants cannot be judged by the number 

 of degrees of frost they may endure in the winter, for changeable 

 wealher is more trying to them than the hardest frost, especially 

 when the ground is covered with snow. I have observed many 

 plants that stood the winter well, and had bcLiun to grow in the 

 early spring, and were then killed by even a slight frost. A light 

 covering with either evergreen branches or Russia mats will be of 

 great benefit to them ; not that it will keep out the frost, but it 

 will sin)i)ly prevent the sudileii thawing and freezing. 



Some persons, and especially botanists, will maintain that these 

 plants do not require any special nourishment beside what they 



