TRANSPLANTING PERENNIALS 201 



one, the California poppy, felt very sad the day that 

 Herr von Eschscholtz found her and she was named 

 Eschscholtziaihe poor thing ! She must go always 

 to a new home with that name fastened to her. 



"This larkspur will divide into three," he contin- 

 ued, turning again to his work ; "and we put each in 

 a new place, and they each start a new family." 



"It 's just like making colonies, is n't it?" remarked 

 Mary. 



"Yes," assented Mr. Trommel ; "except that one 

 does not have to dig up the roots of all the people in 

 the old country to move a few to the new. 



"Now we divide the irises. We cut with the spade 

 where we cannot pull apart." 



"Irises have a pretty name." 



Herr Trommel nodded. "Yes; they have not 

 suffered." 



"Iris was a goddess who had lots of different-col- 

 ored dresses," explained Mary. "I think she used to 

 wear a rainbow over her shoulder." 



"She might," admitted Mr. Trommel. 



"And the iris is called iris because it is so beautifully 

 shaded, the violet into the white and lavender and 

 What is that thing, Mr. Trommel," she broke off 

 "that thick root with the little roots coming from it ? " 



