The Garden Magazine, September, 1919 



63 



plant upside down on one hand and spread the roots into 

 their natural positions as nearly as possible. Retain them 

 there with the other hand until they are reversed and lowered 

 on to this earth cushion; sift fine earth over and into them, 

 working it down thoroughly as you go along, and watering it 

 down when the hole is filled to within an inch or less of the 

 surface. Let the water settle until every bit is absolutely 

 out of sight, then fill in the rest of the earth and rake up and 

 clean up. 



In dividing old plants it is sometimes possible to expose 

 the root clump on one side only and cut away a portion — from 

 a third to half or more — without taking up the entire plant; 

 which saves labor for one thing, and is an advantage to the 

 old plant remaining, especially if this is one of the kinds that 

 dislike being disturbed. Plants that have been for a long 

 time without dividing however will usually be benefited by a 

 general thinning at the roots. It is indeed an axiom of the 



herbaceous garden that everything should be thinned and 

 replanted about every fourth year, for continued health and 

 vigor. 



Many simply cut old root clumps apart with a sharp knife, 

 but 1 like best working them apart and inducing them to 

 separate at the points of weakest union. Afterward all the 

 edges must of course be trimmed with a sharp knife, as 

 ragged edges underground or above distinguish only the 

 ignorant or the extremely careless and indifferent gardener. 

 Small root clusters will of course suffice, if there is reason for 

 making them small; but unless there is I would advise being 

 generous when dividing and extending a border with old 

 material. Otherwise the wait for it to grow and become 

 established will be pretty long — and is sure to be correspond- 

 ingly discouraging. As the whole idea of doing this work in 

 the fall is to gain time, it defeats its own purpose if carried 

 out on too meager a basis. 



THE ABANDON AND RIOT OF WILD FLOWERS 



These gay Pyrethrums, growing lustily above a wall in nondescript fashion, convince that any sort of place, be it 

 in or out of a garden, is the right place for the herbaceous plants that are the garden's loveliest ornaments 



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