BNOYCLOPEDIA OF GARDENING: 
SPECIES CULTIVATED: P. biflorum, green and white, May, 1 to 3 ft., N. 
America; latifolium, white, July, 2 to 3 ft., Europe; multiflorum (David 8 Harp), 
white, June, 3 ft., Europe; officinale (Common Solomon's Seal), white, May, 1 ft., 
Europe (Britain); oppositifolium, white and green, April, 3 ft., Himalayas. There 
are double-flowered forms of P. multiflorum and officinale. 
Polygonum (Knot Weed).—Ord. Polygonacex. Hardy annuals, 
herbaceous perennials, & shrubby climbers. __ - 
CULTURE OF ANNUAL SPECIES: Soil, ordinary. Position, sunny 
well-drained borders. Sow seeds 1-16in. deep in light soil in temp. 
65° in March, planting seedlings outdoors in June; or sow in open 
border in April. Water freely in dry weather. Apply stimulants 
during flowering period. . : . 
CULTURE OF PERENNIAL SPECIES: Soil, good rich ordinary. 
Position of P, cuspidatum & P. sachalinense in large sunny or shady 
moist borders, as isolated specimens on lawns, or on margins of ponds; 
& P, baldschuanicum for covering arbours, pergolas, or tree trunks. 
P. vaccinifolium in ordinary sunny borders or on rockeries. Plant, 
Oct., Nov., March, or April. Mulch with decayed manure annually in 
March. Apply stimulants occasionally during July & Aug. Water 
copiously in dry weather. Prune away the dead points of shoots of 
P. baldschuanicum in early spring. Propagate perennials by seeds, as 
advised for annuals, or by division of roots in Oct. or March; green- 
house species by cuttings inserted in sandy peat under bell-glass in 
temp. 60° to 75° in spring. 
ANNUAL SPECIES: P. orientale, rosy purple, Aug., 4 to 8 ft., Tropics. 
PERENNIAL SPECIES: P. affine, rose, autumn, 5 to 8 ft., Himalayas; alpinum, 
white, Aug., 4 ft., S. Europe; amplexicaule, rose, autumn, 3 ft., Himalayas; 
baldschuanicum, white, autumn, 10 to 15 ft., climber, Bokhara; compactum, white, 
autumn, 2 ft., Japan; cuspidatum, white, July and Aug., 6 to 8 ft., Japan; 
sachalinense, white, summer, 8 to 10 ft., Sachalin Isles; vaccinifolium, rose, 
autumn, 6 in., Himalayas. Latter to te grown on a rockery. 
Polypodium (Common Polypody; Oak Fern; Beech Fern).—Ord. 
Filices. Stove, greenhouse & hardy ferns. Evergreen & deciduous. 
CULTURE OF STOVE AND GREENHOUSE SPECIES: Compost, 
equal parts loam, peat, leaf-mould, & silver sand. Pot, Feb. to April. 
Position, pots, baskets, or rock beds. Shade from sun essential. 
Moist atmosphere, Feb. to Sept.; moderately moist afterwards. No 
syringing required. Water freely, March to Sept.; moderately, Sept. 
to March. No stimulants. Temp. for greenhouse species, March to 
Oct. 55° to 65°; Oct. to March 40° to 50°; stove species, March to 
Oct. 65° to 75°; Oct. to March 55° to 65°. 
CULTURE OF HARDY SPECIES: Soil, equal parts fibry peat, 
decayed turfy loam, leaf-mould, & coarse silver sand for P. vulgare & 
vars.; equal parts peat, loam, coarse sand & small lumps of sandstone 
for P. dryopteris (Oak Fern) & P. phegopteris (Beech Fern); two- 
thirds sandy fibry loam, one-third pounded limestone for P. dryopteris 
robertianum. osition, shady fernery, bank, or rockery for P. vul- 
gare; partially-shaded dryish rockery for P. dryopteris & P. phegop- 
teris, dry partially-shady rockery for Robertianum; other species any- 
where in shade in ordinary soil. Plant, April. Water in dry 
eevee Top-dress annually in April with the special soils described 
above. 
POT CULTURE OF HARDY SPECIES: Composts as above. Pot, 
March. Position, shady, airy cold greenhouse, pit or frame. Water 
evergreen kinds freely in summer, moderately at other times; 
deciduous kinds freely whilst growing; occasionally after foliage dies 
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