JANUARY. 53 



month is more to be relied on for what are termed 

 florists' bulbs. The latter kinds should be taken up 

 and replanted every year, the former once in three 

 or four years ; the latter form their offsets on the 

 sides of the bulbs, by which they become crowded, 

 weakened, and indisposed to flower richly the suc- 

 ceeding year, which makes it necessary to take 

 them up annually and prepare them for replanting. 

 Those of the border which form their bulbs either 

 under the original one, as in the bulbous-rooted Iris 

 and Narcissus, or as in the Crocus, must be raised 

 within the time specified, or take the risk in the first 

 instance of striking so deep as to be weakened and 

 to disappear altogether, or, in the latter case, of 

 throwing up their bulbs above the surface, so as to 

 be destroyed by a dry season, or by frost. 



In every case the great principle is to preserve 

 the bulbs in vigor, and free from injury to replant 

 them in proper time, within three months if possible, 

 and not to take them up till the leaves are decayed, 

 as the sap, on the formation of which the future 

 bloom depends, must first be produced by the instru- 

 mentality of the leaves, and stored by them in the 

 bulbs, for the support and production of the embryo 

 flower. The Tulips, Ranunculuses, and Anemones, 

 planted in November, and now making their appear- 

 ance, must be carefully protected. The green-house 

 will require the same attention as in the last month, 

 with respect to the exclusion of frost and damp, 

 admission of dry and free air, and very moderate 

 watering. 



As the Chrysanthemum and Camellia, from their 

 intrinsic merit and beauty, will ever form the most 

 striking decorations of the green-house at this sea- 

 son, and remain independent of the caprice and 

 vicissitudes of fashion, it may not be amiss, at this 



