32 HARDY FLOWERS. 



the most quickly-raised specimen of a soft-wooded plant must 

 devote thought to his work at least twelve months before he stages 

 his plant, so must he who wishes to succeed with the chief beauties 

 of the hardy class prepare in time. Imagine an exhibitor busy at 

 work the day before the show, putting flowering cuttings of Ixoras 

 or Heaths into large pots. This is precisely what even our best 

 growers do with many soft-growing perennials which are peculiarly 

 adapted for growing into the neatest of specimens in a short time, 

 and with but little trouble. 



There is no class which offers to the tasteful exhibitor more beautiful 

 or more varied subjects than the one under discussion^-none that 

 will better reward the enthusiastic cultivator. It is quite a new 

 field, and almost an inexhaustible one. The judicious exhibiting of 

 the finer alpine and herbaceous plants would really show to the 

 million what treasures are within their reach, and help to spread 

 more quickly the growing taste for them. There is no doubt that a 

 more widely- spread knowledge of them would do more good than 

 that of any other class of plants, because they may be grown by 

 all, and enjoyed by all, more than any other known class of plants. 

 Therefore, apart from any honour or pecuniary advantage to be 

 had, those who would grow them and show them well, would be 

 doing a real good. 



Selections of the best kinds for exhibition are given in Part III. 



CHAPTER X. 



THE PROPAGATION OP HARDY FLOWERS. 



A LARGE number of alpine and herbaceous plants may be raised 

 from seed, and in every place where there is a collection, it is 

 desirable to sow the seeds of as many rare and new kinds as are 

 worth raising in this way. A good deal will depend on the appliances 

 of the garden as to the precise way in which they are to be raised ; 

 but whether there be greenhouses on the premises or not even a 

 glass hand-light, alpine plants and choice perennials may be raised 

 there in abundance. Supposing we are supplied with a good selection 

 of seeds in early spring, and have room in frames and pits to spare, 

 some time might be gained by sowing in pans or pots, and by placing 



