ON REARING FLOWERS. 



135 



like the starworts, the flower-stems are only of annual 

 duration^ they should be immediately cut do'wn to within 

 an inch or more of the ground ; as decayed or decaying 

 flowering-stems have a very unsightly appearance. But 

 if, as is the case with wallflowers and some others, the 

 stems remain for more than one year, the flowers should 

 be plucked off as they fade (imless seed is required"^, 

 which will induce them to flower again in the same season. 

 These directions are particularly apphcable to wallflowers, 

 which may, by this practice, be continued in flower for a 

 gi'eat length of time. 



Early in the spring each plant should be divided, if 

 necessaiy : as plants of this description are apt to become 

 too straggling; and the bed or border should be dug over, 

 occasionally applying a little well-rotted manure, and 

 shifting the plants eveiy three or four years. All tubers 

 which have been enumerated in the list before given re- 

 quire precisely the same treatment as the others, except 

 that they will multiply themselves, some of them in a simi- 

 lar manner to potatoes, and others, such as cyclamens, by 

 a singular process, in which the seed naturally inclines to 

 the earth, where in course of time, it forms itself into 

 a new tuber, which may then be detached from the plant. 



It is worth considering that the outside portions of 

 any patches of herbaceous plants are always the most 

 healthy and vigorous, because youngest, the farthest from 

 the old stems, and rooted in fresh soil. In dividing them, 

 therefore, the old centre part of the plants should be 

 rejected, and only the fresher portions be used. 



Some kinds of perennials are peculiarly suited for growing 

 on rocks, or among stones, roots, kc. The various species 

 of fern, heath and savin, (among shrubs.) stone-crops, 

 London-pride, several kinds of alyssum and draba, ^-all- 

 flowers, red valerian, violets, with some of the campanulas, 

 and pinks, and saxifrages, are best fitted for this purpose. 

 They should each be provided with a little soil to grow in, 

 and the means of draining off their surplus vater, and be 

 slightly shaded so as not to be burnt up in hot wea.ther, 

 but not be so covered as to be prevented from imbibing 

 moisture by raiu. A northern, or nearly Dorthern aspect, 

 where they get little sud, or a position beneath the shade 



