THE ORNAMENTAL PLANTS — PERENNIALS 261 
plan to have new plants coming on to take their place; or the 
old roots may be taken up in the fall and divided, only the 
fresh and strong parts being planted again. 
Perennial herbs are propagated in various ways, — by seeds, 
and by cuttings of the stems and roots, but mostly by the easy 
method of division. On the raising of these plants from seeds, 
William Falconer writes as follows in Dreer’s ‘“‘Garden Book” 
for 1909: — 
“Hardy perennials are easily grown from seed. In many 
cases they are a little slower than annuals, but with intelligent 
care they are successfully raised, and from seed is an excellent 
way to get up a big stock of perennials. Many sorts, if 
sown in spring, bloom the first year from seeds as early as 
annuals; for instance: gaillardia, Iceland poppies, Chinese 
larkspur, platycodon, etc. Others do not bloom until the 
second year. 
“The amateur may have more success and less bother growing 
perennials from seed sown in the open ground than from any 
other way. Prepare a bed in a nice, warm, sheltered spot in 
the garden, preferably not very sunny. Let the surface of the 
bed be raised four or five inches above the general level, and 
the soil be a mellow fine earth on the surface. Draw shallow 
rows across the surface of the bed three or four inches apart, 
and here sow the seeds, keeping the varieties of one kind or 
nature as much together as practicable, covering the seeds 
thinly; press the whole surface gently, water moderately, then 
dust a little fine loose soil over all. If the weather is sunny or 
windy, shade with papers or a few branches, but remove these in 
the evening. When the seedlings come up, thin them out to 
stiffen those that are left, and when they are two or three inches 
high, they are fit for transplanting into permanent quarters. 
All this should be done in early spring, say March, April, or 
May. Again, in July or August perennials are very easily 
raised out of doors, and much in the same way as above. Or 
