40 



CHAPTER III. 



BULBS AND TUBEROUS-ROOTED FLOWERS 



PERENNIALS. 



I SHALL give the bulbous and tnberous-rooted flow- 

 ers a chapter to themselves. They are the earliest 

 treasures of the flower-garden, and deserve especial 

 notice. There was a period when two hundred 

 pounds was off'ered for a hyacinth root, and even 

 the enormous sum of six hundred pounds was given 

 for a Semper Augustus tulip, by the Dutch tulip 

 fanciers. But though a ^q\y florists are still par- 

 ticularly nice with respect to their bulbs, the time 

 is past for paying such splendid prices ; and such 

 an inexhaustible variety offer themselves to our no- 

 tice now, that we are somewhat puzzled in making 

 a choice collection. Seed produces immense num- 

 bers yearly, and an infinite variety of new colors 

 in each species. The florist is lost in admiration 

 of the magnificent blooms which meet the eye in 

 every flower-garden which is carefully attended to. 

 Bulbs love a mixture of garden soil and sand, 

 well mixed, and dug about two spades deep to 

 lighten it. Break the mould fine, and rake the sur- 

 face even. Plant the bulbs four inches deep, and 

 let them be six inches apart, placing the bulb with 

 care into the dibbled hole, and pressing the earth 

 gently round each. All bulbs should be replanted 

 in September, and taken out of the ground when 



