THE ORNAMENTAL PLANTS — PERENNIALS 261 



plan to have new plants coming on to take their place; or the 

 old roots may be taken up in the fall and divided, only the 

 fresh and strong parts being planted again. 



Perennial herbs are propagated in various ways, — by seeds, 

 and by cuttings of the stems and roots, but mostly by the easy 

 method of division. On the raising of these plants from seeds, 

 WilHam Falconer writes as follows in Dreer's ^'Garden Book" 

 for 1909: — 



''Hardy perennials are easily grown from seed. In many 

 cases they are a little slower than annuals, but with intelligent 

 care they are successfully raised, and from seed is an excellent 

 way to get up a big stock of perennials. Many sorts, if 

 sown in spring, bloom the first year from seeds as early as 

 annuals; for instance: gaillardia, Iceland poppies, Chinese 

 larkspur, platycodon, etc. Others do not bloom until the 

 second year. 



''The amateur may have more success and less bother growing 

 perennials from seed sown in the open ground than from any 

 other way. Prepare a bed in a nice, warm, sheltered spot in 

 the garden, preferably not very sunny. Let the surface of the 

 bed be raised four or five inches above the general level, and 

 the soil be a mellow fine earth on the surface. Draw shallow 

 rows across the surface of the bed three or four inches apart, 

 atid here sow the seeds, keeping the varieties of one kind or 

 nature as much together as practicable, covering the seeds 

 thinly; press the whole surface gently, water moderately, then 

 dust a little fine loose soil over all. If the weather is sunny or 

 windy, shade with papers or a few branches, but remove these in 

 the evening. When the seedlings come up, thin them out to 

 stiffen those that are left, and when they are two or three inches 

 high, they are fit for transplanting into permanent quarters. 

 All this should be done in early spring, say March, April, or 

 May. Again, in July or August perennials are very easily 

 raised out of doors, and much in the same way as above. Or 



