MAY] FLOWER GARDEN. 40T 



mer, should the weather prove dry, it will increase their flowers mate- 

 rially to water your plants every evening. 



In October, when the leaves and stalks are killed with the frost, 

 it is necessary to cut down the stalks to within six inches of the 

 ground, and let them remain so for a few days that the roots may 

 be well refined, otherwise they are not so likely to keep during the 

 winter or vegetate in spring. As you take them up label each plant 

 separately with the name, color, and height, as it will assist you to 

 diversify the different varieties in* planting. The better way to label 

 them is to write the name on a small wooden tally, and tie it on the 

 root with good twine, or fine wire is preferable. Keep them in winter 

 secure from frost by putting them in dry sand or saw-dust, and placing 

 them in a cellar. 



HYACINTHS. 



Continue to defend the beds of the more curious hyacinths, yet in 

 full blow, as directed last month, or they may be defended either by 

 boards or by mats laid occasionally on hoops placed archwise over the 

 beds for their support. These should be laid on every day, when the 

 sun shines powerfully, about nine or ten o'clock in the morning, and 

 taken off at four or five in the afternoon. 



When hyacinths are past flower, let them always be fully exposed 

 to the weather, except in very heavy torrents of rain, from which 

 they should be carefully protected. 



It is the practice in Holland to take up the bulbs about a month 

 after the bloom is completely over, in the following manner : as soon 

 as the plants begin to put on a yellowish decayed appearance, they 

 take up the roots and cut off the stem and foliage within an inch or 

 half an inch of the bulb, but leave the fibres, &c., attached to it ; 

 they then place the bulbs again on the same bed, with their points 

 towards the north, and cover them about an inch deep with dry earth 

 or sand in form of a ridge, or in little cones over each bulb : in this 

 state they remain about three weeks longer, and dry or ripen gra- 

 dually; during which period the bed is preserved from heavy rains 

 or too much sun, but at all other times exposed to the full air: at the 

 expiration of this period, the bulbs are taken up, and their fibres, 

 which are become dry and withered, cut or gently rubbed off; they 

 are then placed in a dry room for two or three weeks, and are after- 

 wards cleaned from any soil that adheres to them, their loose skins 

 taken off, with such offsets as may be easily separated. 



When this dressing is finished ; the bulbs are wrapped up in sepa- 

 rate pieces of paper, or buried in sand, made effectually dry for that 

 purpose, where they remain till the return of the season for planting. 



Another, and less troublesome mode of treatment after bloom, 

 though perhaps more hazardous, is to suffer the roots to remain in 

 the beds till the stems and foliage appear nearly dried up and con- 

 sumed ; this will seldom happen to be the case in less than two 

 months after bloom ; the bulbs are then to be taken up, cleaned from 

 the fibres, soils, &c., and spread to dry and harden on the floor of an 

 airy room, for about three weeks, then to be preserved in sand or 



