SEPTEMBER: FOURTH WEEK 241 



Do the Fall Planting Early 



Unless a late dry summer has made soil conditions un- 

 favorable, early planting is, generally, advisable; there 

 may be dry weather later, or an extra early fall. Most 

 of the plants may be safely handled soon after their bloom- 

 ing season is over, especially such sorts as go into a semi- 

 dormant state of growth, as indicated by their foliage 

 turning brown or dying down altogether. Therefore the 

 early flowering things should be moved first, Bleeding 

 Heart (Dicentra), the early phloxes and hardy poppies, 

 Hly-of-the-valley, primroses, and many others can all be 

 planted immediately. Hardy perennial plants which are 

 bought from the nursery or seedsmen, and have been 

 grown in pots, may also be set out immediately, and the 

 sooner they are set out, the stronger plants they will make 

 before winter. The things still in active growth, like the 

 late phloxes, chrysanthemums, fall anemones, helianthus, 

 cardinal flowers, Tritomas, can wait until they are through 

 flowering or after hard frost. In ordering from a nursery, 

 the proper time for sending the plants may be left to the 

 grower, but if a considerable number of things are being 

 bought it is well to have them sent in two lots, — the earher 

 things a couple of weeks in advance of the others. This will 

 be better for the plants, and the work of planting wiU not 

 have to be so rushed. 



Increasing Plants by "Division" 



In replanting your own plants or in exchanging plants 

 with your neighbors,— which is a good and inexpensive way 

 of increasing your collection, — the plants should be kept 

 out of the ground as short a time as possible, and at all times 

 should be protected by moss or wet bagging from sun and 

 wind. There are two common mistakes to be avoided. The 

 first is leaving the clumps to be replanted too large; most 

 perennials can be divided easily by hand, and part of a 

 clump or a section of a plant with a few strong buds or 

 crowns, will give much better results in almost all cases than 



