PROPAGATING HARDY PLANTS 
63 
Astilbes, Hellebores, are all plants of the class 
referred to, and the propagator's object should be 
to so divide his clumps that each cut portion has 
a share of the solid mass and the appended thong 
roots proportionate to the number of growth buds. 
In dividing very old clumps it will generally be 
found that the best growths are those round the 
circumference or outside, and often the centre 
portion will be so exhausted and starved as to be 
valueless for replanting. 
5. Propagation by Layering 
By layering is meant pegging down a shoot of 
a plant in the soil in order that it may make inde- 
Layering Plants of Sub-Shrubby Habit. 
pendent roots prior to being separated from the 
parent plant. It is the recognized method of 
propagating named varieties of Carnations, and is 
dealt with in detail in the cultural hints upon that 
plant. There are, however, a good many other 
subjects which may be propagated after the same 
manner. The hardy Ericas, Polygalas and Men- 
