March 4, 1886. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
169 
plants to-day I find the number of flowers range from fifteen up to 
twenty-eight on a plant, which I consider a fair number for my pur¬ 
pose. I once divided a hundred plants into four equal lots, and tried 
an experiment with a different mixture of soil for each lot and care¬ 
fully noted the results, but the most satisfactory were the plants 
grown in the compost stated above.—T homas Record. 
NEW v. OLD VARIETIES. 
I FOR one, and I doubt if there are not many, who do not agree with 
“ A. L. G.” (page 134) as to old varieties being altogether superior to new. 
There are undoubtedly many old varieties of vegetables that are very diffi¬ 
cult to surpass ; still, if all were of the same opinion as “ A. L. G.” 
gardening would certainly become very tame, as novelties are often the 
greatest interest of the garden and gardeners generally. I would not 
pretend to advocate an excess of novelty in the vegetable list, as it would 
prove a too expensive indulgence, but they may profitably be patronised 
in moderation with advantage to both gardener and employer alike. 
Brussels Sprouts are, says “ A. L. G.,’’ represented by Aigburth only. 
This is a variety pretty generally discarded, and better varieties are substi¬ 
tuted that prove more profitable. Reading Exhibition or Gilbert’s 
Universal are to my mind far before Aigburth. A new form of Beet was 
grown last y6ar, and which gave such satisfaction at the table that the 
same has been ordered this year. 
Broccoli is a vegetable that has been much improved of late years, and 
the same holds good respecting Celery, Tomatoes, Turnips, and Peas, the 
latter especially so. Chrysanthemums, too, have had many valuable 
additions of late years. This is indisputable, more especially in the 
Japanese and early-flowering section. With regard to Melons, these are 
most numerous, and ofttimes very perplexing, as so many forms are some¬ 
times produced from one packet of seed. It would appear that tastes 
differ more with Melons than with almost any other kind of fruit, some 
preferring scarlet-fleshed kinds and others green. With us last year 
Eastnor Castle, among others, was grown, and is often justly considered 
excellent, but I am under orders not to grow it again. W. Tillery 
and Blenheim Orange are varieties if obtained true are difficult to sur¬ 
pass for productiveness and quality, and represent a good type of green 
and scarlet-fleshed kinds.—S. B. 
Your correspondent, “ A. L. G.,” I fancy to a great extent misin¬ 
terprets the true meaning of Mr. Molyneux’s advice, for doubtless he is 
one of the very first to view and try any new variety. 
“ A. L. G.” ought by all means to have named the whole of the 
vegetables he finds it most economical to grow; in that case readers 
might have been able to trace how many are grown that were not long 
ago novelties or new varieties. Among the few penned I notice three. It 
may be “ A. L. G.” does not grow those new varieties until they have been 
well tried, but a nervous policy in looking on until the ice becomes cut up 
by others is not to be admired. That there is annually a vast number of 
doubtful novelties in the pages of most catalogues cannot be denied, and 
that many firms sell the same strain under different names is pretty 
certain. If they are good not much harm is done by that. It is cer¬ 
tainly in the interest of seedsmen to supply the most useful and productive 
varieties even in made-up collections. I very much admire the terms 
exhibition and profit, as employed by Mr. Marriott. It may safely be 
predicted what position a collection of vegetables would occupy provided 
some of the new and old novelties were left out. 
I remember a remark penned by “ A Thinker ” in a paragraph some 
time ago, that employers are pretty much as gardeners make them, or 
something very similar to that. I thought at the time what a weight of 
truth the short sentence conveyed. I could name an employer who not 
very many years ago complained that £3 in Pea seed alone seemed rather 
extravagant, having usually run on the Is. to Is. fid. per quart line to 
short of £1 10i. Regarding the next season, nothing was said except a 
wish to have a supply of Peas equal to the preceding ; the seed account 
with a few sundries having reached £8. The same employer, a very 
economical and thoroughly business gentleman, asks what sum will be 
required for Peas this year. “Nearly five pounds, sir,” was the reply. 
“ Quite right, well spent money that.” The seed bill scaling £14 is paid by 
return without a murmur. Will readers pardon my details ? I hope they 
may be of service. May I ask “ A. L. G.” how this employer’s interest 
could have been better studied. Still I would say to any other young 
gardener, Take especial pains at all times and in all things to meet the 
wishes of your employers ; but this does not imply that narrowing down 
to the lowest point in everything is most economical. Often a little 
careful and unpresuming explanation with steady progress is more 
satisfying than rigid economy with bare results. 
While I find it needful to keep a garden in pleasurable and profitable 
order with the least possible outlay, give me high-class men well paid, 
high-class seeds, and abundance of high-class tools.— Lathyrus. 
HARDY PERENNIALS AND ROOT-PROPAGATION. 
At the present time many persons are growing hardy peren¬ 
nials who seem little acquainted with the means by which they 
may be increased. One of the least-known methods perhaps is 
that of root-propagation. It has an advantage, too, as by root- 
propagation many good plants may be readily increased which 
are either slow to produce cuttings or do not flower sufficiently , 
early to produce seed. Another gain we find by root-propagation 
is that it is best done when the plants are in a dormant state, the 
best time being during the first three months of the year, 
though I have with such plants as the Japanese Anemones con¬ 
tinued to insert quantities of rootlets till late in March. Some 
plants are so floriferous that it is almost impossible to obtain 
growth cuttings, in which case root cuttings are of still greater 
yalue. The genus Gaillardia affords an instance of this, as the 
plants continue producing flowers till cut down by autumn frosts. 
But some may urge that the Gaillardias are so free to produce 
seeds that these would more than compensate for the loss of 
growth cuttings ; but supposing in a bed of Gaillardias we get 
some very fine forms, then root cuttings are of great value. In 
this way some years ago I secured a batch of a very fine Gaillardia 
which was at least 4 inches across, and which was considered 
entitled to the name afterwards adopted of grandiflora maxima. 
The operation of root-propagation is not one of considerable 
difficulty, but on the other hand, may be performed by anyone 
having a fair knowledge of the plants themselves. The chief points 
to be observed are as followsThe plant may be lif ed and 
some of the larger roots detached, at the same time taking care 
to label them correctly, replant the specimen, but take care not 
to permanently injure the plants operated on, and it is best to 
cut the root its full length, which will give several cuttings. 
The next thing is to cut the roots into lengths of from 1 to 
2 inches, laying them in one direction, so that they may not 
become reversed before placing them in the soil. Pots or pans 
may be used. I prefer pots well drained, and place the cuttings 
round the interior. When inserting the cuttings, leave the top 
visible above the soil—that is, for thick fleshy roots. Twiggy or 
fibrous roots I prefer scattering thickly in boxes or pans. Any 
ordinary soil will do, making it rather sandy; in this way continue 
till the work is completed. When this is done the pots should 
be removed into slight bottom heat. The boxes may be placed 
under the stages till signs of growth appear, and then place them 
where they may receive more light. 
It now i-emains to enumerate those genera which can not only 
be propagated freely in this way, but which pay for the trouble. 
Taking them in alphabetical order, we first notice the Acanthus, 
which constitute one of the stateliest groups of fine-fuliaged 
perennials suited either for the rockwork in prominent positions, 
the specimen border, or for exhibition purposes. The whole of 
this group is easily increased in this way, and make saleable 
plants in less time than seedlings ; the roots are large and fleshy 
and soon break into growth. The most distinct are A candela¬ 
brum, A. longifolius, very handsome, and A. spinosissimus. 
Anchusa italica forms a pyramid some 3 feet high and in 
diameter. This is also a free seeder. In some winters I have seen 
it killed, as far as the top is concerned; at such times I have had 
recourse to the roots, which dive deeply into the soil, and by 
lifting a few of these good flowering plants were secured for 
summer, and which, had the plant been left to itself, might have 
taken a full season to recover. 
Amongst the most important of hardy plants which furnish 
gardens with flowers from very early spring till quite late in 
autumn are the Anemones or Windflowers, the majority of which 
are tuberous, therefore it is not to these that I now refer. Such 
species as A. pulsatilla, A. alpina, A. sulphurea, with all the 
forms of A. japonica, may be increased in this way; in the latter 
case it is decidedly the best mode, as every particle of root will 
grow. 
Doronicums, Echinops, and Eryngiums, the former valuable 
for some of the early-flowering species which it contains, and 
the two latter equally valuable for picturesque planting on 
rockeries and the like, may be similarly treated. The Gaillardias 
are highly valuable free-flowering perennials and which continue 
to produce flowers till frost comes. The roots of these are white, 
the older ones woody in the centre, and the latter do not break 
so readily as the younger and more fleshy. Then comes the 
fragrant Jaborosa integrifolia, a dwarf plant, preferring a sunny 
position; it is still uncommon and produces its large white tubular 
flowers from amidst abundant foliage. 
In the G3notheras we have some free seeders and others which 
can be propagated freely by cuttings and division ; still it may 
be well to remember that (E. macrocarpa and CE. mLsouriensis 
may be freely increased by root cuttings. These two forms 
appear to be identical, at any rate what 1 have grown under the 
names. The showy Poppies of the Orient, Papaver orientale brac- 
teatum, and allied forms, are not good to divide, for their roots 
run deeply and are very brittle, but by digging up the roots they 
may be had in plenty. 
The next most important group is the Primulas, but con¬ 
sidering their free-seeding qualities, and the ease with which 
seedlings of the species are obtained, I prefer to rely upon seeds, 
