96 BRECK’S NEW BOOK OF FLOWEBS. 
THE CULTIVATION OF PERENNIALS, BIENNIALS, 
AND ANNUALS. 
‘\ A flowery crown will I compose— 
I'll weave the Crocus, weave the Rose ; 
[Pll weave Narcissus, newly wet, 
The Hyacinth and Violet ; 
The Myrtle shall supply me green, 
And Lilies laugh in light between , 
That the rich tendrils of my beauty’s hair 
May burst into their crowning flowers, and light the painted air.” 
Those plants which do not in their growth form either 
trees or shrubs, but which lose their tops, wholly or in 
part, every year, the roots continuing to live for several 
years successively, are called perennials. 
Biennials are those plants that flower the second and 
sometimes the third year from the time the seeds are 
sown, and then perish, as the Sweet Scabious. 
Imperfect Perennials continue three or more years, and 
then die, as the Sweet William or Fox Glove, but which, 
with a little care in dividing the roots every year, can be 
kept many years. 
Perennials are hardy, half hardy, and tender. Hardy 
perennials stand the coldest winter without protection ; 
half-hardy require to be well protected; and tender 
perennials must be kept through the winter in the green- 
house. 
Perennials are of two kinds, bulbous and herbaceous, 
which, differing materially from each other in habits, re- 
quire, consequently, a different kind of treatment. Such 
being the case, a few remarks will be made on each kind 
separately. 
