276 OF FLOWERS. SLCT. XVII!. 



frames, produce furprifmg plants of the tender annual 

 clafs; {o that the globe amaranthus has been raifed to 

 three, and the giant coxcomb, and tricolor, from three to 

 five or fix feet high.* Tender flowers defigned to gather 

 feed from, fhould begin to have fome protection of 

 glafs about Mid-Augujl, at leaft on nights, till they are 

 fully ripened in September. 



Scoop trowels, ot two or three fizes, will be found 

 very ufeful in the fhifting of flowers in general, but 

 particularly of the hot bed fort; and as they fhould be 

 clean from dirt when ufed, fo alfo mould they be free 

 from ruft, by which they will work much pleafanter, 

 and more fuccefsfully : In fhort all garden tools were 

 better kept bright, as well for ufe as neatnefs. Before 

 a trowel is ufed, in the removal of a plant, it is a fafe 

 way to cut ft rait down round the root, and to the 

 bottom, with a large, clean, and not verv blunt knile; 

 fo will the trowel take all up whole, and the fibres will 

 uot be lacerated, or barked : But attempt not to take 

 up more earth in a ball than is likely to hang together, 

 left all drop by its weight. Tranfplant (if poiliblej 

 always in moiif, or cloudy wether. 



A [mall watering pot, (i. e. from two to three quarts) 

 •with a finely pierced rofe, is alfo necefTary, to give 

 rcireihmerit without bending down the plants, or har- 

 dening the furface ot the earth. The form of many a 

 good flower is fpoiled in its infancy by rough watering,, 

 and particularly capficums ; to avoid which c/i\ t what- 

 ever pot is ufed, let it be only half full. 



The petting of plants is often carelefsly, but ought 

 to be moll carefully performed, that as little check as 

 poflible may be felt by the roots* Fill the pot one 

 third, half, or more, full, (as the cafe may require) and 

 then make a hole in the middle, adapted in form to re- 

 ceive the plant, with its ball of earth ; and be furedo it 

 right at firil, fo as not to be too high, or too low, for 

 once put in, it will not be fafe to take it out again, left 

 the mould drop from the roots. Do not prefs the ball 



