17 



has remained long out of the gronnd seldom grows well. A bed of 

 fresh light earlh is the best for the purpose. In the following spring 

 ihc plants shoulii be kept clear from weeds, and occasionally wa- 

 tered when the season is dry; being transplanted into other beds 

 of the same sort, during the summer or autumn, according to their 

 growth, at the distance of eight or ten inches every way; water be- 

 ing given when necessary. The plants mostly blow in the Ibllowing 

 sunnuer, but seldom in a strong manner. The best flowering roots 

 should therefore be taken up in the autumn, and planted out in such 

 situations in the garden and pleasure-grounds as they are designed to 

 remain in. In order to prevent the roots from degenerating by the 

 reception of the farina of other flowers, the flower-stems should be 

 cut down immediately after the}' have blown. And to keep up a 

 proper succession of fine flowers, some plants should be raised every 

 two years from seed. 



In saving the seed of the variegated kinds, great care should be 

 taken that no plain flowers be left among them. 



The different varieties of these plants are capable of being in- 

 creased by ()arting the roots of the young plants, such as those of 

 three years old, in the autumn or spring. 



The only general culture these plants require, is that of keeping 

 them free from weeds, and cutting the decayed stems down in the 

 autumnal season. 



The last species often flowers sooner by a month than those of 

 the other kinds. 



All the varieties of the first, however much they may seem to 

 differ in form, colour, size, structure, and variegation, are capable of 

 being produced from seed ol" the same plant. 



They are all adapted to afford variety in pleasure grounds and. 

 gardens; and the Canada sort is esteemed for the early appearance 

 of its flowers. 



