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AUTUMN 
141 
division. This of course only applies to per¬ 
ennial ones. Far from injuring them, the 
greater number of plants are all the better for 
it. There are, however, a few which prefer to 
be left alone. Peonies, for instance, do not like 
being disturbed ; but it is only by long experi¬ 
ence we can learn all about gardening, and all 
the various peculiarities of plants, and it would 
be impossible to tell you all the exceptions. It 
is best for you to learn that nearly all the plants 
in a herbaceous bed (orbed of large perennials) 
are improved by being dug up every few years. 
When the plants are lifted they can be divided 
up into smaller plants, according to their size. 
A phlox, for instance, or perennial sunflower, 
or a Michaelmas daisy, grows so large that it 
can often be cut into several fair-sized plants, 
which soon grow big and equal to the original 
one. I used to watch a gardener doing this, 
and be quite distressed when I saw the spade 
go right into a large plant and chop off two or 
three little blocks ; I felt th^y would never t 
survive such cruel treatment. But one day I 
had a white phlox given to me, just a little 
square lump chopped off the corner of a large 
mass, and before three years were gone I was 
digging up the plant myself, and with all the 
strength I could muster (for it is a tough 
job sometimes) I was boldly cutting up my 
