285 



to remain a year or two; and the large bulbs again in the borders, 

 &c. singly. The oft-sets in the nursery beds may also, afler having 

 obtained size and strength for flowering in perfection, be planted out 

 where they are wanted. 



The sowing of the seed is chiefly practised for the MartagonB to 

 obtain new varieties, which should be done in autumn, soon after the 

 seed is ripe, in pots or boxes of rich light sandy earth, with holes in 

 the bottoms half an inch deep; i)lacing the pots in a sunny sheltered 

 situation all wmlcr, refreshing them at first often with water, and the 

 plants will appear in the spring; when, about April, remove them 

 to have only the morning sun all the summer, giving moderate water- 

 ings: in August the bulbs should be transplanted into nursery-beds 

 in flat drills, an inch deep, and three or four asunder; when, as the 

 bulbs will be very small, scatter the earth and bulbs together into the 

 drills, covering them with earth to the above depth; and after having 

 grown in this situation till the August or September following, they 

 should be transplanted into another bed, placing them eight or nine 

 inches each way asunder, to remain to show their first flowers; after 

 which they may be finally planted out into the pleasure-ground. 

 New varieties of the other sorts may be raised in the same way. 

 The bulb-bearing varieties may also be increased l)y the little 

 bulbs put forth from the axils of the leaves without taking n[) the old 



bulbs. 



The same method of planting and general culture answers for all 



the different sorts. 



The most proper time, as has been seen, for planting and trans- 

 planting them is in autumn, Avhen their flowers and stalks decay, 

 which is generally about Sei)tend)er, the roots being then at rest for 

 a short space of time, as well as for procuring roots to plant. The 

 bulbs taken up at the above season may be kept out of ground, if 

 necessary, till October or November: the White Lilies, however, do 

 not succeed if kept long out of the earth, and all the others succeed 

 best when planted again as soon as possible. The bulbs of all the 

 sorts are sold at the nurseries. 



They shoidd b(^ planted singly, as they soon increase by ofl-sels 



