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moisture. Some recommend the putting of a layer of well-rotted 



cow-dung, about five inches in thickness, below the compost materials. 

 The surface of the beds should be raked even before the roots are 

 put in. In planting, six rows should be put in each bed, the roots 

 being set at the distance of six inches from each other in the rows, 

 and to the depth of two or three inches. When this has been done, 

 the surface should be made smooth by raking it over lightly. 



The time of planting should vary according to that which it is 

 intended they should blow at. The best season where early flower- 

 ing is intended is in the latter end of September or the beginning of 

 the following month; for a middle flowering, about the middle of 

 October; and for late flowering, the latter end of February. In this 

 mode of planting a succession of flowers may be provided from April 

 till the middle of June. Those roots that are planted the earliest are 

 in general the strongest, and afford the best flowers, as well as the 

 greatest increase of off-sets. It is always advisable to keep a few 

 roots out of the ground till the spring season, for the purpose of a 

 succession of flowers, and lest the early planted ones should be in- 

 jured by the severity of the winter, which is sometimes the case 

 where they are not covered to protect them from frost. These spring- 

 planted roots flower a fortnight or three weeks after those which 

 were planted in autumn, and many times blow equally as fair, espe- 

 cially if it prove a moist spring,, and care be taken to refresh them 

 gently with water. 



But the increase of these roots will not be near so great as in those 

 of the first planting, provided they are not hurt in winter; and it is 

 for this reason that those who deal in these roots are forward in plant- 

 ing; as, although it may sometimes happen, by sharp pinching frosts 

 in the spring, that their flowers are not so double and fair as those 

 planted a little later, yet, if they can preserve the green leaves of 

 the plants from being injured, the roots greatly increase in bulk. But 

 in gardens where these flowers are preserved with care there is alwaj's 

 provision made to cover them from the injuries of the weather, by 

 arching the beds over with hoops or frames of wood, and covering 

 them with garden rnals or cloths in frosty nights, especially in the 



