CULTIVATION OF HERBS, ROOTS, ETC. 149 
the surface, sprinkle the seeds, then simply cover them 
with a mixture of soil and dry borse manure. When 
grown sufficiently, from one to three inches, transplant them 
into beds of fine mould with sand. Let this be done after 
rain when the sun has gone down; if there has not been 
rain, water the ground in the evenings. 
Herbs that grow well from cuttings, such as hoarhound and 
sage should be treated thus: At the beginning of summer cut off 
the strong branches; take off the top leaves for about six 
inches. Put in a well-prepared bed in rows about one to two 
feet apart, and about the same distance between the rows. Ii 
the weather is dry, water them well in the evening till they 
have got good hold of the soil and are showing signs of growth. 
Rue, southern wood, hyssop, feverfew, wormwood, mother- 
wort, and other hardy plants same time and directions as 
hoarhound and sage. The seeds of these should be sown two 
months earlier. Agrimony roots should be carefully shifted 
with the earth round them in the spring when the frost is 
ove1 ; in the winter it will be better to cover them well with 
earth to keep it from them. ‘This is a delicate herb to rear. 
_ Peletory of the wall is best raised from seeds, which 
should be sown at the beginning of summer. The soil must 
be fine; it is best to sift it. Lobelia, which we have several 
times tried to raise from the seeds and failed, probably 
on account of the seeds (which are very small) having 
perished. In order if possible to prevent this, the seeds 
should be mixed with earth in a hot-bed, and tended 
very carefully even after transplantation, which must be done 
by hfting the earth with the plants. 
Elecampane roots should be planted in the spring with a 
part of the stem attached; one root may be divided up into 
several. Marsh mallows and rosemary may be treated the same 
way as hoarhound, or grownfrom the seed, sown in early spring. 
‘Vervain in a similar manner. When the whole plant is 
medicinal and an annual, it may be cut off above the root and 
hung over a line till it is dry, then cut up and kept air-tight 
