ANCHUSA AND ORIENTAL POPPIES

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 153, 25 March 1938, Page 18

ANCHUSA AND ORIENTAL POPPIES

Easily Propagated By Cuttings Should you have a good anchusa or oriental poppy which you would like to increase as much as possible, don’t follow the ordinary method of root division. Neither plant makes enough root fibres to re-establish itself quickly, and even wiih luck you cannot wake more than three divisions out of a really big plant. Follow the root cutting method, and the increase may be twenty-fold, eleven more. Now is a good time for the job. Cut off the top growth level with the soil, water thoroughly, and lift carefully with a fork. You will find a long tap and several side roots or thongs. Cut off the latter. Replant tlie tap root, and the specimen will be all right again next season. With a sharp knife slice the side roots into pieces 2in. long. Nick the top of each section, which is a root cutting, to remind you which is tlie top. Actually the cutting will strike at both ends, but you get a better result from the true top.

All side roots as thick as, or thicker than, an ordinary lead pencil make splendid cuttings after the above preparation. Plant them Hili. apart in 2£ln. deep, well-drained boxes, using a riddled compost of loam 3 parts, leaf-mould and sand 1 part each. Having tilled each box to within jin. of the top, sprinkle on it a jin. layer of sand. Plant the cuttings with a dibber, the tops being l-3in. above the sand.