INCREASING HARDY PLANTS BY CUTTINGS 37 



time in advance of it. It is chiefly recommended where 

 only a limited number are required. Pinks, Polyanthuses, 

 Pansies, Auriculas, and many other things may all be in- 

 creased this way, besides a great array of garden border 

 flowers, such as Phloxes, Columbines, Flag Irises, Christmas 

 Roses, Anemones, and similar things which all lend them- 

 selves to free increase by division of the roots. The operation 

 consists in carefully cutting through the root-stock with a 

 pointed knife, or, in other cases, pulling the plants asunder with 

 the hands or fingers. In the latter way Primroses, Pansies, 

 Pinks, Sunflowers, Irises, Polyanthuses, London Pride, white 

 Arabis, purple Aubrietia, and dozens of others may be in- 

 creased with perfect ease. The best time for the work 

 depends on the time the subject flowers ; for instance, the 

 Pink flowers in May and June, and the Pansy about the 

 same time, the Polyanthus earlier. To leave the work of 

 division until the flower-buds appear is to spoil the effect, 

 therefore always be well ahead of the flowering period. It 

 is important that the divided portions should have roots 

 attached, and that these be firmly planted. Place the roots 

 perpendicularly in a well-dug hole, not crammed into a small 

 space, as when thus treated they rot and perish ; whereas, 

 distributed properly, and soil placed firmly about them, they 

 quickly take fresh hold, and soon recover from the check. 

 Any plants divided and replanted in spring or dry weather 

 should always be well watered afterwards. 



BOX WITH PINK "PIPINGS" OR CUTTINGS 



