DESCRIPTIVE LIST OF FLOWERS. 243 



Tlie dimensions of the bed should be marked out, and the 

 soil taken entirely away to the depth of two feet; the 

 earth on the bottom should then be dug and well pulver- 

 ized, and the space above filled with the following com- 

 post : — 



" Four parts of river sand ; four of fresh, sound earth ; 

 three of rotten cow dung, at least two years old ; and 

 one of decayed leaves, or decayed peat. The fresh, sound 

 earth of the compost should be of the best quality of 

 what is called virgin soil, or that obtained from pastures 

 or "the roadside ; or, if that is not attainable, the best gar- 

 den mould, free from noxious vermin of every description. 

 These ingredients should be well mixed and incorporated 

 a considerable time before wanted. About ten days be- 

 fore planting, the bed should be filled up with the com- 

 post, even with the path, or so as to be even Avhen the 

 roots are set. The surface of the bed should be raked 

 perfectly smooth before planting, and the exact situation 

 for every bulb marked on it as follows : — 



E B W E B W R B W 



W R B W R B W R B 



R B W R B W R B W 



W R B W R B W R B 



R B W R B W R B W 



W R B W R B W R B 



The letters e, b, w, denote the color of the flower to be 

 planted there, viz. : red, blue, or white ; under these 

 heads, all Hyacinths may be conij^rehended, excej^t a few 

 yellow sorts, which may be classed with the white." The 

 bed should be four feet wide ; the bulbs to be planted 

 eight inches distant from each other in the rows, and to 

 be covered four inches deep. First, place about one inch 



