C88 OF FLOWERS. SECT. XVlll- 



The proper difpofttion of bulbous and tuberous roots, 

 is either in beds (a trifle rounded) of from three to four 

 feet and a half wide, for the curious forts ; or in patches, 

 to form clufters of three, four, or five, agreeable to the 

 room they require. There mould be only one in a place 

 (generally) of the white, or orange lily, crown impe- 

 rial, and fuch like large bulbs. 



In beds, the fancy forts of bulbs, and tubers, may be 

 fet in rows, eight or nine inches afunder, and from 

 five to feven inches in the rows, according to their 

 fize. The diftance of four inches apart is, however, 

 by fome florifts, thought fufficient for anemones and 

 ranunculujes ; but certainly more were better, where a 

 ftrong blow is a firft object. Hyacinths mould be 

 planted at feven, or eight, though they are more com- 

 monly fet at fix inches. Tulips mould be at eight, or 

 mne, though fix is often all that is allowed them. 



When planted, if rain does not come in about four 

 clays, beds of bulbs and tubers fhould be watered, to 

 ftc them growing, that they m»y not mould and rot. 



Though bulbs may be planted by a dibble, (taking 

 care that the earth docs not lay hollow about the 

 WDOts) a better way is, to draw drills, and place them 

 in, giving them a gentle prefiure into the ground, and 

 covering neatly up. A little heejand mav be ilrewed 

 along the bottom of the drills, under hyacinths, anemo- 

 nes, and ranunculujes, if the foil is not a dry and light 

 one. The beft way of planting bulbs is, however, to 

 draw the mould off the bed to a fufficient depth ; then 

 lay the furface perfectly level ; give a watering ; and 

 when the top is a little dry, mark it out into proper 

 iized fquares ; then place a bulb in the middle of each, 

 and carefully cover up, (o as not to throw them on their 

 iides ; Give the whole a little prefiure with the back of 

 a fpade to fatten the mould. 



B'j'lbs and tubers in beds, may conveniently be pro- 

 tect cL when in flower, from rain and fun, by an awn- 

 ing, which will continue them in perfection of blow 

 4 much 



