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THE PRACTICAL GARDENER. 



PROPAGATING HERBACEOUS PLANTS. 



Herbaceous plants are propagated by seeds, cuttings of the 

 stems and roots, and by splitting or dividing them into smaller 

 pieces. Propagation by seeds and by cuttings of the roots, 

 arc performed generally in spring, in order that the young 

 seedling-plants may attain a sufficient size the first year of 

 their growth, to enable them to withstand the approaching 

 winter ; and propagation by cuttings of the roots is performed 

 at that season also, as soon or immediately before their vege- 

 tating powers become affected by the natural influence of the 

 season. Propagation, by cuttings of the stem, may be per- 

 formed at any period after the plant has nearly attained its 

 full size, till it becomes too hard and dry ; after which time 

 the success will be less certain. Almost all herbaceous pe- 

 rennial plants can be propagated by this method; and to 

 increase any scarce species, it is certainly of all methods the 

 most certain and expeditious. Propagation, by dividing at 

 the roots, is often performed, and may be practised at any 

 season of the year upon many plants ; those that are of 

 evergreen and diminutive habits in particular. Those which 

 attain a large size are less calculated for this mode of pro- 

 pagation during their season of growth ; but from the time 

 that they begin to decay in autumn, till they have begun to 

 grow again in spring, they may, with the greatest safety, be 

 divided, and almost increased at pleasure. 



CARNATIONS AND PINKS. 



Carnations and pinks may still be propagated by laying and 

 piping, but the sooner it be now done the more strong will the 

 plants be before winter. Carnations laid last month, should 

 be looked over, as many of them, and by far the greater part, 

 will have struck root sufficiently to warrant their being sepa- 

 rated from the parent plants. The finer kinds will require, 

 for their greater safety, to be potted in small pots, one plant 

 in each, in the size called large sixties, or small forty-eights ; 

 and as soon as they are potted they should be moderately 



