190 THE GOLD MINE 



rank and disagreeable odors wliich came down out of 

 the past. Tliougli this has been one of the mothers of 

 the new and fragrant race, yet much of the indifference 

 regarding the modern flower dates back to the mem- 

 ory of the sickening odor, so indelibly impressed on 

 childhood. 



Again, they are not hardy in the West and N'orth- 

 west. Thousands have planted them and failed, and 

 think the whole family a fraud. We get letters from 

 Minnesota, telling of failures, and in every instance 

 you trace it back to the same old "piny." Six years 

 ago I planted a dozen good, strong roots. The first 

 winter eleven of them died, and it took the survivor 

 six years to furnish one bloom. 'No wonder, when peo- 

 ple judge from these, that they are prejudiced against 

 the whole. The Officinalis multiplies slowly. Others, 

 beside this lone one, have blossomed gloriously and in- 

 creased rapidly. 



• I know there are clumps here and there in !N^ebraska, 

 and when once established and not disturbed, they 

 give early blossoms, following hard on the Tenuifolia. 

 Both these kinds have an entirely different system of 

 roots from the Chinensis, — something like clumps of 

 sweet potatoes. In separating them, as in case of the 

 dahlia, you must have a bud go with the root. So 

 please bear in mind, if you live in the bleak ISTorth- 

 west, that you are never to order the Officinalis. 



