206 FLOWER GARDEN POLIANTHUS, &c. [APRIL. 



about the first of this month in six inch pots filled with 

 light rich earth, giving very little water until they begin 

 to grow, when they ought to be liberally supplied with 

 plenty of air, and about the end of next month they 

 may be planted in the borders, providing a spot for 

 them that is or has been well worked, and enriched 

 with well decomposed manure. Secure their flower 

 stems to proper rods. Previous to planting the roots, 

 all the off-sets should be taken off and planted sepa- 

 rately ; keep the crown of the bulb level with the surface 

 of the pot, and when they are replanted in the open 

 ground, put them two inches deeper. 



But when the convenience of a hot-bed cannot be 

 obtained, they will succeed very well if planted about 

 the end of this month or first of next in the garden, in a 

 bed of earth prepared for their reception. Let it be 

 dug deep, and make the soil light and rich, by giving it 

 a t good supply of manure two years old, well broken 

 and incorporated with the earth, adding a little sand 

 where the soil is heavy. The black earth from the 

 woods produced from decayed leaves is equally as good 

 without sand. Having the ground in proper order, 

 draw drills about two and a half inches deep, and eight- 

 een inches apart; plant the bulbs(after divesting them 

 of their off-sets) nine inches apart in the row, covering 

 the crown of the bulb about an inch and a half. 

 When done, carefully rake and finish off the beds. 

 When they shoot up their flower stems, give them neat 

 rods for their support. Plant the off-sets in closer rows 

 to produce flowering roots for next year, because they 

 seldom flower the second time. 



