HARDY HERBACEOUS PERENNIALS. 195 



its influence. As many of the hardy herbaceous peren- 

 nials are natives of shady woods and swamps, they suffer 

 greatly if exposed to the scorching rays of our summer 

 suns, unless mulched with manure, leaves, or some such 

 material to protect the roots. Most of them also do 

 rather better in a little shade than when exposed to full 

 sunshine^ 



With such a number to select from, it is diffi- 

 cult to make a list of twenty-five, or even fifty, 

 and not leave out many desirable kinds. Those m 

 the following list are all of generally admitted ex- 

 cellence, and are usually to be obtained from florists 

 and nurserymen. 



It maybe 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 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 

 following 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. 



