DESCRIPTIVE LIST OF FLOWERS. 877 



plant the bulbs, if planted on the surface. The planting 

 should be done in a pleasant day. It should not be done 

 directly after a heavy rain, for then the soil will be heavy. 

 That the roots may be planted exact, I prepare a board, 

 six and a half inches wide, the length the width of the 

 bed. On the edges of the board I mark the distances the 

 bulbs are to be planted from each other, by sawing in a 

 notch ; thus, three inches from the end, for the first, and 

 from that seven inches, until the whole number, seven, 

 are made, which will leave three inches on the other side. 

 Stretch a line on one side of the bed, and, by keeping one 

 end of the board up to it, the planting may be done with- 

 out any trouble, and every root in its right place, pro- 

 vided the board is placed square across the bed at each 

 removal. Having placed the board, let some fine sand be 

 placed where the bulbs are to be set. The roots should 

 then be gently pressed into the earth, close up to the 

 notch, but not so deep as to cover them, the large bulbs a 

 little deeper than the smaller ones, and remove the board; 

 then completely envelop each root with a little cone of 

 sand, or very sandy earth, and so proceed until all the 

 bulbs are set. Now with a spade gradually cover the 

 bulbs with the surface soil, until the bed lias been raised 

 four inches above the level of the walk. This will cover 

 the bulbs about three and a half inches, the proper depth. 

 Let it be carefully smoothed, but not with any instrument 

 that will interfere with or put out of place any of the 

 roots which have been set. All the care necessary, after 

 this, is to throw some light protection over the beds be- 

 fore winter sets in, to be removed by the first of April. 

 Afterwards keep the bed free from weeds. To have the 

 flowers in the greatest perfection, screen them from the 

 sun, in mid-day, by an awning. A powerful sun soon de- 

 stroys the beauty of a Tulip bed, by causing the colors to 

 run together. A bed of late Tulips is generally in its 



