4 Introduction 



There are two reasons for this. In the 

 first place, the roots have exhausted all the 

 food within reach and, again, the main 

 crown, from which spring the blooming 

 shoots, dies from exhaustion. At the outer 

 edge of this decay is generally a fringe 

 of " live matter " which, if taken up, sep- 

 arate from the decayed center, divided, and 

 reset in good soil, will rejuvenate itself, 

 and soon form a new plant. 



In unfavorable sections the Texas gail- 

 lardia will lose its crown during winter, 

 and the anxious novice watches impatiently 

 in the spring for its reappearance, and 

 finally digs it up only to find that while the 

 crown is decayed the roots are alive, and 

 here and there, on these, new plant buds 

 are forming which, if not disturbed, would 

 soon make good plants, probably not 

 placed, however, just where wanted. Nurs- 

 erymen often avail themselves of this pe- 

 culiarity and increase their stock by tak- 

 ing up a plant, cutting the roots into small 

 sections, and growing them separately. 



