12 A GUIDE TO FLOKICULTUKE. 



size transplanted out to gain strength, and the tender varie- 

 ties should he potted off in September arid housed before the 

 frost sets in ; the next season, some of the choicest may be 

 increased by cuttings and slips. Biennials, as well as other 

 plants require a good rich loam. 



Perennials. In regard to this class of flowers they are 

 obtained from seed the same as the two former, will never 

 flower until the second year,, but instead of ceasing to exist 

 as soon as done flowering, generally increase at the root, 

 thus making a perpetual flowering plant. Many suppose 

 that the perennial sends up the same stem every season ; 

 this is not the case ; the old stem ceases to exist, this gives 

 room for the increase of the root at a more or less given 

 distance from the original stem ; and this freak of nature 

 makes it easily divided and constitutes a perpetual plant. 

 Perennials are divided into two classes, herbaceous and 

 shrubby ; the first may be divided again into bulbous, tu- 

 berous, and fibrous. The process of increasing them dif- 

 fers materially j the bulbous by offsets and seeds, shrubby 

 by cuttings, seeds., layerings, and slips. The herbaceous 

 perennial bulbs include our favorites, such as the Tulip, 

 Crown Imperial, Hyacinth, Lilies,. Crocuses, &c. These 

 should be taken up e^ery season when the foliage dies 

 down, and be replanted again in another part of the garden 

 between the months of August and December. The tube- 

 rous perennials compose our finest collections of plants; 

 some should be removed every season, while others should 

 be allowed to remain three years. The Phloxs, Lupins, 

 Asters, Peonies, and many others should be divided every 

 three years, as the nature of the plants will indicate by then 

 growth and disposition, and planted it situations corres- 



