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A FEW REMARKS ON THE CULTURE OF PERENNIALS 
IN GENERAL, 
WITH A SELECTION OF SOME OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL FOR BOTH THE 
STOVE, GREENHOUSE, AND OPEN BORDERS. 
Perennials are those plants which do not in their growth form either trees 
or shrubs, but which lose their tops wholly, or in part, every year after they have 
done flowering; the roots continuing to live and regerminate for several years 
successively. 
Perennials are of two kinds, bulbous and herbaceous, which, differing materially 
from each other in habits, require, consequently, a different kind of treatment. 
Such being the case, it will be necessary to make a few remarks on each kind 
separately ; and 
1. BULBOUS PERENNIALS. 
These are of three kinds, viz. :- — Hardy, or such as will grow in the open 
border ; Greenhouse, or such as require a little protection from cold and wet, but 
very little heat ; and Stove, or those that will not flower or grow to perfection 
without artificial heat. 
Hardy bulbs, with a few exceptions, are remarkably easy of cultivation • 
and if planted in proper soil and situations, seldom fail to produce plenty of offsets 
and seeds for propagation. 
The best kind of soil for their growth is a light loam, rather sandy than other- 
wise, yet not too light, or the bulbs will be injured during the heat of summer, and 
if adhesive they invariably grow weakly and seldom flower. 
As to the depth which the different bulbs require to be planted in the ground, 
no certain rule can be laid down ; some species require to be planted not more than 
an inch and a half deep, and others from four to six inches. This must, therefore, 
be left to the judgment of the planter. 
Encourage as much as possible the growth of the leaves, by giving them free 
exposure to light and air, for on them depends the success of the bulbs' flowering 
the following year. If the leaves grow strong, a good quantity of strong pulp is 
stored up in the bulbs, and a good bloom is the consequence. 
Never, if it can be avoided, disturb the roots by removal during the time of 
their growth ; but if obliged to do so, select a wet day, and take them up with 
good balls, so as to not injure the fibrous roots. 
The only time to remove them with success is during the season of their 
torpidity, at which time the offsets may be separated, and planted where the 
cultivator may judge best. 
The season of rest for most of the spring-flowering bulbs happens shortly after 
they have done flowering ; but the autumn-flowering ones rarely become torpid till 
towards the following summer ; but the only general rule that can be laid down in 
this is, that when the tops have quite died down then is the time to separate or 
remove them without injury. 
