136 WOOD AND GARDEN 



of Polygonum com;pact'wm, are spreading beyond bounds 

 and must be reduced, Neitber of these need be 

 enturely taken up. Without going into further detail, 

 it may be of use to note how often I find it advisable 

 to lift and divide some of the more prominent hardy 

 plants. 



Every year I divide Michaelmas Daisies, Golden- 

 rod, MeliantJbus, Fhlox, Chrysanthemum maximum, Hele- 

 nium pumilum, Pyrethrum uliginosum, Anthemis tinctoria, 

 Monarda, Lychnis, Primula, except P, denticulaia, rosea, 

 and auricula, ■which stand two years. i 



Every two years, White Pinks, Cranesbills, Spircea, 

 Aconitum, Gaillardia, Coreopsis, Chrysanthemwm indicum, 

 Oalega, JDoronicum, Nepeta, Geum aureum, (Enothera 

 Ymmgi, and CE. riparia. 



Every three years, Tritoma, Megasea, Centranihus, 

 Vinca, Iris, Narcissus. 



A plasterer's hammer is a tool that is very handy 

 for dividing plants. It has a hammer on one side of 

 the head, and a cutting blade like a small chopper on 

 the other. With this and a cold chisel and a strong 

 knife one can divide any roots in comfort. I never 

 divide things by brutally chopping them across with 

 a spade. Plants 'that have soft fleshy tubers like 

 Dahlias and Pseonies want the cold chisel; it can be 

 cleverly inserted among the crowns so that injury to 

 the tubers is avoided, and it is equally useful in the 

 case of some plants whose points of attachment are 

 almost as hard as wire, like Ordbus vernus, or as tough 



