JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



small inferior shoots are formed in the interior of the clump, 

 which presently become overcrowded and perish. 



But they are altogether more vigorous and produce a greater 

 percentage of good flowers when divided and replanted every 

 second year. In very severe winters the varieties of this 

 group suffer from frost, and are sometimes killed outright, a 

 large number of plants having succumbed to its severity during 

 last winter. In the case of large specimens the centre is fre- 

 quently killed completely, while the outer shoots remain com- 

 paratively sound and secure. Those remaining will be best lifted 

 and replanted as soon as signs of renewed activity appear, giving 

 them a fresh position wherever this is possible. 



And now, in conclusion, let me say a few words concerning 

 their propagation, a comparatively easy matter to all — so much 

 so, in fact, that such kinds as rigidus, latiflorus, doronicoidcs, 

 and indeed all those that produce underground stems and buds, 

 will require nothing beyond what I have already suggested ; while 

 for the remaining species and varieties, or at least their greatest 

 number, division of the root in early spring will be best for 

 most amateurs and private growers. Nurserymen, however, have 

 sometimes to adopt other means, when propagation by means of 

 cuttings has to be resorted to. During a somewhat varied 

 experience among hardy plants, I have rooted many hundreds 

 of cuttings of these Sunflowers, an operation which has been 

 rendered necessary by the demand for these fine golden flowers 

 of summer and autumn. 



This may seem somewhat overdone, but when I say that not 

 only have I gladly availed myself of the young points, such as are 

 usually employed for cuttings, but have been equally grateful for 

 cuttings merely composed of single joints, it will be readily seen 

 that these plants have been much in demand, or the stock has 

 been very low, and truthfully it has been a little of both. 



Twice in my experience have I had to go even further than 

 this, and have been compelled to insert cuttings with single eyes — 

 that is, making two cuttings from each joint. This is the mode I 

 referred to in the early part of my paper, the varieties thus 

 operated on being the forms of H. multiflorus. H. orgyalis may 

 also be freely propagated by means of cuttings, first by securing its 

 extreme point, and afterwards the young breaks that issue freely 

 from the stem. The best propagating medium is a dung frame. 



