HOUSE AND GARDEN | 
April, 1913 
307 
tisia australis, blackberry lily ( Pardan- 
thus sinensis), oriental poppy, Amsonia 
Tabernaemontana, the maiden pink ( Dian - 
thus deltoides ) and some of the primulas, 
to name only a few perennials, while it is 
a very slow way to accumulate herbaceous 
peonies. The only thing to go by is a 
Knowledge of habit, which varies greatly 
in the length of time required for germi¬ 
nation as well as for the attainment of the 
capacity of blooming; it is often difficult to 
get the seed of trollius and Gentiana acau- 
lis to germinate until its second spring- 
underground. 
Creeping and prostrate plants common¬ 
ly send out a large number of shoots that 
root readily, and, indeed, often strike root 
before being detached. All of the spring¬ 
blooming ploxes, arabis, doronicum, Pole- 
monium reptans, the ajugas, the veronicas 
and the stonecrops are readily propagated 
in this wise. Others, like the primulas 
and drop wort, can not be grown from 
cuttings; they form crowns that are easily 
pulled apart. Cuttings may be taken of 
Phlox paniculata, and it grows quickly 
from seed, but for ordinary purposes the 
best plan is to separate the roots. Large 
clumps may be safely cut with the point of 
a spade and the same is true of Trades- 
cantia virginica, the funkias, homerocal- 
lis, Siberian and Japanese iris and all per¬ 
ennials that form a mass of roots so close¬ 
ly bound together that division by hand is 
out of the question. 
There need be no fear of taking cut¬ 
tings. within reasonable bounds, or of such 
subdividing. Both are good for peren¬ 
nials, which, it must not be forgotten, oc¬ 
casionally thrive more luxuriously in the 
garden than in their native haunts. To 
separate every few years, or every year, if 
conditions seem to warrant it, is good ad¬ 
vice concerning the majority of peren¬ 
nials ; divide peonies every seventh year 
and let fraxinella and the everlasting pea 
alone indefinitely, unless a transfer is ab¬ 
solutely necessary. 
It is a custom, but one altogether too in¬ 
frequent, to plant some of the perennials 
— generally grown from seed — in pots. 
For example this seems to be the only way 
to get perfection out of the chimney bell¬ 
flower, Campanula pyramidalis. In pots 
the spikes of blue or white blossoms will 
shoot up five or six feet and there is noth¬ 
ing more beautiful for an early summer 
decorative change in the conservatory or 
for a porch or hall plant. All of the hardy 
primulas, but more particularly the Eng¬ 
lish, Cashmere and Siebold primroses, the 
giant cowslip, the polyanthus and the bor¬ 
der auricula, are remarkably handsome 
little pot plants for March and April in¬ 
doors. The choicer pyrethrums, trollius, 
Phlox divaricata and many of the alpines 
are quite as handsome in their way. All 
of the plants may be set out in the garden 
after blooming, though the chimney bell¬ 
flower is generally treated as a biennial 
and thrown away when this has taken 
place. 
There are two more uses for potted per¬ 
ennials. One is to keep a reserve store for 
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Eye Comfort 
Lighting in 
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Y OU have often been in theaters, 
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Pulling switch F lights the large 
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NATIONAL X-RAY REFLECTOR CO. 
. 237 W. Jackson Blvd., CHICAGO © 507 Fifth Avenue, NEW YORK 
New York address after April 1, at 14 W. 33rd St., opposite Waldorf 
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F.H.McDonald, Grand Rapids; Northern 
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In writing to advertisers please mention House and Garden. 
