May,] ANEMONES AND RANUNCULUS. 1U9 



that are tropical. The weather being now warm, they will 

 vegetate in a few days or weeks. Attend to thinning of those 

 that are too thick, giving gentle watering to such as are 

 weak in dry weather. Those that have been protected in 

 frames should be fully exposed therein night and day ; take 

 the first opportunity of damp cloudy days to have them trans- 

 planted into the borders or beds, lifting them out of the frame 

 with as much earth as will adhere to their roots. 



CARE OF HYACINTHS, TULIPS, ETC. 



For the treatment of these, while in bloom, see last month. 

 The best time to take them out of the ground is about five 

 weeks after they are done flowering, or when the stem ap- 

 pears what may be termed half-decayed. The best method 

 to dry them is to place the roots in rows, with bulb to bulb, 

 the stems lying north and south, or east and west. Give the 

 bulbs a very thin covering of earth, merely to exclude the 

 sun, so that they may not dry too rapidly, being thereby 

 liable to become soft. When they have thoroughly dried in 

 this situation, which will be in eight or ten days in dry 

 weather (and if it rains, cover them with boards), take ttoeni 

 to an airy dry loft or shade, clearing off the fibres or stems, 

 and in a few weeks put them in close drawers, or cover them 

 with sand perfectly dry, until the time of planting, for whicn 

 see October. 



It is not advisable to allow any of the bulbs of either 

 Hyacinths or Tulips to seed, as it retards their ripening and 

 weakens the roots, except where there are a few desired for 

 new varieties. The small off-sets must be carefully kept in 

 dry sand, or immediately planted. 



ANEMONES AND RANUNCULUS. 



These, while in bloom, should be carefully shaded from the 

 sun by hoops and thin canvass, or an erect temporary awning; 

 and as soon as they are done flowering, 'iey must be fully 

 exposed and the waterings given up. 

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