108 GARDENING FOB PLEASUKE. 



or deviate from their normal form, notwithstanding they 

 have heen in cultivation for a century or two. On the 

 other hand many have, by sporting, or by hybridizing, 

 and crossing, as in the case of paeonies, phloxes, irises, 

 and others, produced many florists varieties, which show 

 forms and colors not found in the native state of the 

 plants, and the frequent occurrence of double flowers 

 among them shows that cultivation has not been without 

 its influence. 



With such a number to select from, it is difficult to 

 make a list of 25, or even 50, and not leave out many de- 

 sirable kinds. Those in the following list are all of gen- 

 erally admitted excellence, and are usually to be obtained 

 from florists and nurserymen. 



It may be added here that there is no part of the coun- 

 try which does not afford wild flowers of sufficient beauty 

 to merit a place in the garden, and most of them, except 

 perhaps those which naturally grow in a deep shade, will 

 grow larger and bloom finer in a rich border than in their 

 native localities. 



Perennials are propagated by division of the clumps, 

 by cuttings of the stems, and sometimes of the roots, 

 and by seeds. In many cases the seeds are very slow of 

 germination unless sown as soon as ripe. As most of 

 them do not bloom until the seedlings have made one 

 year's growth, the seeds should be sown in a reserve bed, 

 from which at the end of the first summer, or in the fol- 

 lowing spring, they may be transplanted to the place 

 where they are to flower. It is well to give the seedlings 

 some protection the first winter, not because they are not 

 hardy, but to prevent them from being thrown out of the 

 soil by frequent freezing and thawing. A covering of 

 evergreen boughs is most suitable, but if these are not at 

 hand, use coarse hay or other litter, first laying down 

 some brush, to keep the covering from matting down 

 upon them. 



