390 BRECK’S NEW BOOK OF FLOWERS. 
It sometimes happens, that, if the seed be left on too 
long, the pods are apt to burst open, and scatter on the 
ground, when numerous young plants will spring up in 
the autumn, particularly if a little fine mould be strewed 
on the surface around the old plants. These seedlings 
may be taken up any time in September or the beginning 
of October, and planted out-in beds to flower in the fol- 
lowing spring, when the finest may be selected for keep- 
ing, and the inferior ones cast away. Several will, of 
course, resemble the mother plant; but there is no doubt 
that the same pod of seed will produce many different va- 
rieties, both in color and shade, as well as in the form and 
size of the petal. Pansies grow very readily, and soon 
spread widely. When the plants thus extend, the soil be- 
ing exhausted, and the stems smothering each other, the 
overgrown roots produce only small flowers. It is there- 
fore necessary, in order to have fine flowers, frequently 
to renew the plants. 
Propagation by Cuttings, to be successful, ought to 
take place at the end of May or early in June. If left 
till July or August, the success will be doubtful, because 
the flower-stems get hollow and pithy. The cuttings may 
be placed singly in thumb-pots, in a little light sandy 
loam and well-rotten dung, and set in a frame with a 
moderate bottom heat, to be kept rather moist and shad- 
ed; or they may be stuck in the ground under a common 
hand-glass, with coal ashes under to prevent the worms 
casting them up; but if placed on gentle bottom heat, the 
glass ought by no means to be shut down close, or they 
will be liable to damp off. 
Propagation by Dividing the Roots, may be done in 
moist weather, any time from July to September. The 
readiest and most certain way is by layers, which may be 
made in either of the above named months. Make an in- 
cision in the joint near the top of the stem, which pin 
