142 THE TREE PROPAGATOR AND PLANTER. 



quarter or bed in an open space in good ground. Plant 

 them not less than 3 feet apart every way, when they 

 will (or should) grow very strong, and will certainly do 

 so if the ground is rich. About July or August bend 

 the young stuff down carefully, and lay it in the ground 

 near the tops, burying 6 inches of the growth in the 

 soil, and letting 4 or 5 inches of the tops stand upright 

 out of the ground. The leaves must be cut off the part 

 to be buried in the soil, and a slight twist given to the 

 layer .just where the leaves are taken off; this will pro- 

 mote rooting. As these layers advance in growth, 

 water may be required for the proper rooting of them, 

 and by the time the layers are in bloom they will be 

 sufficiently rooted to allow of them being taken up and 

 potted. Good balls of earth must be attached to the 

 layers, potted on the spot, carried away to a shady 

 place, and thoroughly soaked with water. These layers 

 will not much detract from the old plants, for they will 

 maintain a good show of flower notwithstanding. The 

 Chrysanthemum may be raised from seed for new sorts, 

 but the chances for improved ones are very precarious. 

 The seed must be sown in seed-pans in the spring, and 

 set in a mild heat. 



The Lily of the Valley {Comallaria). 



The Lily of the Valley and all the Pobjgonatum genus 

 may be propagated by offsets and division of the roots, 

 which should always be done in the autumn. Single 

 crowns may be selected, cut neatly out, and transplanted 

 3 or 4 inches apart in good sandy soil in a little shady 

 aspect. 



The Helleborus. 



All the Helleborus tribe may be propagated by divi- 

 sion of the roots in the early autumn, selecting a crown 

 to each cutting. They may also be raised from seed 

 when it can be had, which, however, is not often. Sow 

 the seed in deep seed-pans, and set it in a mild heat till 

 it is up, then remove to a cold frame to harden off. 



