SECl*. XVIII. UF FLOWERS. 23, 



fharp froft. They m ry be protecled from wet by 

 mats, and from froft by peas haulm; or wheal ftraw. 



Offsets of bulbs, arid weak tubers, mail be planted 

 a month before the fuil-fizcd roots ; and as they are not 

 expected to flower the firft year, mould be di'pofed ot 

 in mirfery beds, (rather clofe) where they may grow 

 a year, or two, according to their ftrength, as fome 

 will be this time, or longer, before thev flower. Thofe 

 taken from fcaly bulbs, will not endure to be out of 

 ground, and muft therefore be planted alraoft imme di- 

 ately. Bulbs token up out of feafon, i. e. when they 

 have remained fo long in the ground as to have ftraek 

 out frefh roots, mould be removed with balls of earth, 

 for though they may live without this care, they will 

 be exceeding weak ; it is therefore neceflary exactly to 

 obferve the proper feafon for removal. 



The foil that bell fuits bulbous 3nd tuberous roots in 

 general, is a fandy loam ; but mofl of the forts are not 

 very nice. The ground for them mould however be 

 well dug, even two fpades deep, that their fibres may. 

 (hoot freely, and wet be completely drained from them, 

 when much of it falls, This -work, fhould be done a 

 week before planting, that t-he ground may fettle. In 

 a light foil, roots of the ranunculus have been found to 

 Ilrike a yard deep, which may admonifh, that in a clay 

 bottom, it is proper to lay a body of itones there, (fup- 

 pofe at eighteen inches) that too much moifture may 

 not be' detained to ficken the roots. 



The depth at which bulbs fhould be planted, muft be 

 according to their fize, three or four inches deep, from 

 their top. Tubers alfo according to their fize ; ane- 

 mones and ranunculujes at two, or two and a halt' 

 inches, &c. Some bulbs will come up even when a 

 foot below the ground, as crown imperials, and crocufes % 

 at fix inches, or more ; fome perfons, therefore, plant 

 them deeper than the above rule, in order to be able to 

 Air the fur face of the ground without damaging them, 

 but it is not advifable. 



The 



