PLANT PROPAGATION 203 



Helianthus, Sedum, some Veronicas, Chrysanthemums, (Enothera, 

 and all perennials which sucker badly should be moved and divided 

 every year. Artemisia, Boltonia, Campanula, Geum, Funkia, 

 Doronicum, Armeria, Thalictrum are all propagated by division. 



SOWING PERENNIAL AND ANNUAL SEEDS. If we possess coldframes 

 and hotbeds we can sow many of the perennials in March and get them 

 to bloom the same year. We can sow annuals also and have them 

 of excellent size for setting in open ground. We may also sow peren- 

 nials and annuals out of doors, in which case some will bloom the first 

 year, but with others a longer time will be required. 



The following are a few of the perennials which will bloom the 

 first year from seed: Gaillardia, Iceland Poppy, Chinese Larkspur 

 (Delphinium chinense), Lychnis, Shasta Daisy, Platycodon. 



On the other hand, there are many perennials which wait a year 

 before flowering, namely: Cardinal Flower, Golden Alyssum, Cam- 

 panula, Aquilegia (Columbine), Foxglove, Loosestrife, Physostegia, 

 Hollyhock, Sweet Rocket. 



The main advantage of growing perennials and annuals from seed 

 is that it saves the great cost of buying plants, which runs up pretty 

 high when quantities of plants must be bought from nurseries. Many 

 of the best varieties do not come true to seed, however, for seedlings 

 often vary in color and habit. This is true especially of highly bred 

 plants, hybrids which have resulted from the incorporation of several 

 species. 



SEED SOWING: VEGETABLES. The hotbed or coldframe is more 

 essential for the vegetable garden than it is for the flower, since we 

 can get the crops so much earlier. Everything is tender and as it 

 seems out of season tastes so good that all the pains of regulating the 

 hotbed are worth while. Lettuce can be matured in such structures, 

 and Tomatoes, Egg-plants, Beets, Onions, Muskmelons, and even 

 Corn can be started. The space is valuable, so that careful planning 

 is necessary to utilize every bit in the hotbed. (Hotbeds are discussed 

 on page 222). Many persons will not have hotbeds, but will need to 

 depend upon the windows for their early start. 



SEEDS OF FLOWERS SOWN INDOORS. There is always a danger 

 in advising a very early start for sowing seeds indoors for the reason 

 that the plants are apt to become very spindling owing to the diminished 

 .light most of us can supply plants in our houses. For the early Spring 

 sowing we shall need to save the soil in the cellar. It should not be 

 too rich but should be loose, made so by the addition of sand, coal 

 ashes, or leafmold. It should be in a fine condition. Small, shallow 

 boxes, three inches deep, are best for seed sowing. The bottom should 

 have a number of cracks and should be covered with some coarse 



