154 



are introduced' as blue and purple, yellow and white, or striped. 

 New ones are also continually imported from Holland. The visual 

 varieties at present in gardens are: the beautifully striped Scotch; 

 the blue; the blue striped; the white; the yellow of several shades, 

 larger and smaller ; the yellow striped with black ; the cloth of 

 gold, &c. 



Culture. The culture in both these sorts is easily effected, by 

 planting the bulbs or off-sets taken from the roots; the first sort in 

 July, or the beginning of the following month, and the latter any 

 time when the weather is open, from September to the beginning of 

 April in the following year; but the more early it is performed, the 

 stronger they flower ; by means of a dibble or trowel, to the depth 

 of about two inches, the ground being previously well dug over, 

 and left some time to settle. They may be set either in beds by 

 themselves in rows, at the distance of eight or nine inches, and 

 six or eight inches apart, or in patches of five or six roots in 

 each, on the fronts of the clumps, borders, or other parts of gar- 

 dens and pleasure grounds, pulling them in a varied manner, 

 both in respect to the sorts, and the order in which they are 

 planted. 



Where the soils are tolerably dry, they may remain two or three 

 years without being disturbed, but should then be taken up at the 

 time the leaves decay, in order to separate the new bulbs or off-sets 

 for further increase, as well as to new dig the ground. The larger 

 bulbs should be separated from the small ones, and put up, each by 

 themselves, in order to be planted at the proper season; the former 

 in the above manner, and the latter in beds in rows six inches dis- 

 tant, to remain till they are of a proper size. 



As the bulbs increase fast, a large stock may with care soon be 

 provided. But when this is not practised, bulbs of the different 

 species and varieties may easily be procured from the nursery and 

 seeds-men. 



In the culture of these plants, great injury is frequently done 

 by trimming off the green leaves at the time the flowers decline, in 



