306 OF FLOWERS. SECT. XVIII. 



It is not absolutely necessary to take bulbs and 

 tubers up every year, as every second or third may 

 do ; but it is the common practice of gardeners to 

 do so, because it gives an opportunity to remove the 

 offsets for propagation, and the mother bulbs are 

 thus strengthened, as also from the renewed soil they 

 meet with. by a fresh plantation. Some people suf- 

 fer bulbous roots to remain many years without tak- 

 ing up ; but then they cramp and starve one another, 

 and are apt to go off from their original beauty. 



Bulbs and tubers may be either replanted imme- 

 diately on being taken up. or kept out of ground 

 during their natural periods of rest; cr for some 

 sorts even longer, as Anemone and Ranunculus, for 

 several months. Autumn flowering bulbs are to be 

 taken up in May, if their leaves are decayed. 



Spring flowering bulbs should be replanted in 

 September or October ; those of the summer in Oc- 

 tober, or November ; and those of autumn in July 

 or August. A little before, or after, is not very ma- 

 terial ; only when they are put in too soon, the 

 Spring ones cqme so forward as to be liable to be 

 damaged in severe winters, and springs ; and when 

 kept out of the ground too long, the bulbs spend 

 themselves first in making roots. The scfl/^Jbulbs 

 (as lilies) should not be kept out of the ground above; 

 a month or six weeks. Those that flower in summer, 

 may be put in the ground at different times, as early 

 and late in autumn, and early in the new year, (not 

 later than February) to obtain a succession of blow. 

 If any are put in at the end of February or begin- 

 ning of March, they should remain two years for 

 increase. This is a common practice with the ane- 

 mone and ranunculus ; but when planted in winter, 

 the soil should be a dry one, or made so, by digging 

 in a ^ood quantity of line sea-coal ashes, and coarse, 

 or drift sand ; else they are apt to rot, if much wet 

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