62 HORTICULTURAL MEMOIRS. 



gant branch of horticulture includes are fast ex- 

 piring. 



Like most other bulbous roots, this plant re- 

 quires a light and rich soil. It produces offsets 

 in abundance. Once in three or four years, and 

 in the month of July, when (in this island) the 

 leaves are dead, the roots are taken up, for the 

 purpose of removing the offsets. The largest 

 roots are then separated, and planted in beds, at 

 a distance of nine inches from each other. These 

 beds are reserved for flowering, while the small- 

 er offsets are planted in separate beds, and treat- 

 ed in a similar manner at the end of an addi- 

 tional period of three or four years. They are 

 found to flower most certainly and most success- 

 fully, when they are planted in open beds ex- 

 posed to the sun. In the hands of the little far- 

 mers, almost every one of whom has a spot ap- 

 propriated to this favourite object, they are both 

 separated with less care, and treated with less 

 attention ; since they are commonly planted in 

 the orchards, under the shade of apple-trees. 

 Among them the produce in flowers is conse- 

 quently neither so vigorous nor so abundant. 



It is necessary, even in this mild climate, 

 where the frost seldom penetrates half an inch 

 below the surface, to protect the bulbs from its 

 action. This is in general easily effected, by a 

 covering of sand of the depth of an inch or less. 

 It is evident, that a greater degree of protection 



