ON LAYING OUT. 



27 



the firmest and best poles for hollyhocks, sunflowers, and the 

 larger class of plants. Fix the flower stem to its stake with 

 string, or the tape of the bass matting, soaked in water to pre- 

 vent its cracking, and tie it sufficiently tight to prevent the wind 

 tearing it from its position. Tie the large stems in three places 

 for security. 



The term Deciduous, applied to shrubs, signifies that they 

 shed their leaves every winter. 



Herbaceous plants, signify those plants whose roots are not 

 woody, such as stocks, wallflowers, &c. &c. 



Fibrous-rooted, plants, are those whose roots shoot out small 

 fibers, such as Polyanthuses, violets, &c. 



Tuberous-rooted plants, signify those roots which form and 

 grow into little tubes, such as Anemones, Ranunculuses, &o. 



PERENNIALS. 



Perennials are flowers of many years' duration ; and they 

 multiply themselves most abundantly by suckers, offsets, parting 

 the roots, <fcc. They require little trouble beyond taking care to 

 renew the soil every year or two by a somewhat plentiful supply 

 from the compost heap ; and by separating the offsets, and part- 

 ing the roots in autumn, to strengthen the mother plant. When 

 the flowers are past and the stems have deca}^ed, then the opera- 

 tion may take place. Choose a showery day for transplanting 

 the roots, or give them a moderate watering to fix them in their 

 fresh places. When you transplant a flower root, dig a hole with 

 your trowel sufficiently large to give the fibers room to lie freely 

 and evenly in the ground. 



I have, throughout my little work, laid great stress upon pos- 

 sessing a heap of compost, ready to apply to roots and shrubs 

 every spring and autumn. Wherever the soil is good the flowers 



