i66 



Gardening for Amateurs 



Amateurs will find the raising of seedlings 

 an interesting hobby, though an increased 

 supply of plants is usually obtained from 

 cuttings or by division. Sow the seeds in 

 a pan of light sandy soil in a cold frame in 

 autumn, as soon as ripe, or in spring. Cut- 



The garden Phlox. 



tings may be inserted in spring or autumn. 

 Most of the clumps send up growths freely in 

 spring, and these young shoots form excellent 

 cuttings. In late summer and autumn it 

 is usually possible to find short growths not 

 containing flowers that are suitable to insert 

 as cuttings. In a closed, slightly heated 

 frame the cuttings will root more quickly 

 than in a cold frame or under a handlight, 



though either method produces satisfactory 

 results. For spring cuttings the heated 

 frame may be chosen, as most of the young 

 plants will then bloom the same year. 

 Division of the roots or clumps is the most 

 generally practised method of increase. 

 It may be done at any 

 time during mild weather, 

 from October to March, 

 the first and last six weeks 

 of this period being the 

 best times. When the 

 clumps of Phlox have 

 been allowed to remain in 

 the ground undisturbed 

 for several years only the 

 outer portions should be 

 chosen for replanting. If 

 lifting and replanting is 

 done in alternate years, or 

 annually, all the pieces 

 will be suitable for re- 

 planting. 



The length of time the 

 roots of Phlox may be 

 allowed to remain in the 

 ground undisturbed is a 

 matter of opinion. It 

 should not exceed four 

 years ; many groAvers 

 favour lifting and dividing 

 in alternate years. When 

 the young growths push 

 up in spring each plant 

 or clump should be 

 limited to from three to 

 six shoots, according to 

 the size of the plants, all 

 others being removed 

 when 2 to 3 inches high. 

 The roots are generally 

 planted about 2 feet apart, 

 though when annual re- 

 planting is practised U 

 feet apart sufficient. The height of the 

 plants varies in different varieties, from H 

 to 5 feet or even 6 feet if the plants are 

 growing under the most favourable con- 

 ditions. There are now both tall and 

 dwarf sorts of late summer Phlox. The 

 modern named sorts are a vast improve- 

 ment on the varieties grown some years 

 ago. The growth of the plants, the 



