PROPAGATION OF HARDY FLOWERS. 37 



as to the treatment of the plants afterwards. My practice is to pot 

 off, as soon as they are sufficiently strong to handle, as many as are 

 required, in three-inch or four-inch pots, say three in each pot. There 

 they will grow well during- the summer, and become thoroughly 

 rooted, ready for consigning to their final habitat, be it rockery, 

 border, or shrubbery, in the early part of spring, after the borders 

 have been roughly raked over; thus giving them ample time to 

 establish themselves before autumn arrives, and their enemy, the 

 spade, is likely to come in their way. Failing a supply of pots 

 sufficient for all, some of the stronger-growing ones may be planted 

 in a sheltered bed of light soil, care being taken to shade them 

 for a few days after being planted; or a few old boxes, five or six 

 inches deep, may be used with even greater advantage for the same 

 purpose, as they may readily be moved from the shady side of a wall 

 to a more sunny locality after they have recovered sufficiently the 

 process of transplanting ; and, finally, they may receive the shelter 

 of a cold frame as soon as winter sets in. This recommendation 

 must not be considered as indicative of their inability to stand the 

 cold weather, but as a precaution against the mechanical action of 

 frost, which, in some soils especially, is apt to loosen their root-hold, 

 and force the young plants, roots and all, to the surface. 



" In the case of the smaller-growing alpines, such as the Drabas, 

 Arabises, etc. I generally find that they stand the first winter best 

 in pots of the smallest size, and in this form they may be the more 

 readily inserted in the interstices of a rockery, where they will per- 

 manently establish themselves." 



With by far the largest proportion of herbaceous and alpine plants, 

 however, propagation is a matter of the very simplest kind, as they 

 spread into masses of many crowns and roots. To increase these, 

 all we have to do is to dig them up any time during the autumn, 

 winter, or early spring, divide into as many pieces as are necessary, 

 and replant at once. Where, in the case of rare plants, and those 

 that may not be readily increased otherwise, it is necessary to resort 

 to cuttings, these may be inserted under shaded lights, in the open 

 air, or in cold frames. If inserted in early spring, a gentle heat will 

 suit them best, or just such treatment as that given to ordinary 

 bedding plants at that season. Some, however, such as the dwarf 

 Andromedas and Rhododendrons the amateur gardener had better 

 purchase in nurseries, as they are of much slower growth, and 

 require much patience and special means of culture. 



