562 THE PLEASURE, OR [OCT. 



thoroughly exposed to the sun and air some time before it is made 

 use of, that it may be rendered perfectly sweet and free from the 

 acrid quality that most soils are most subject to when taken consider- 

 ably below the surface. 



If the bed is only to contain five rows, with a path in the front 

 and not behind, then it will be proper to plant the smallest and 

 lowest growing kinds in the front next the path, and so gradually to 

 increase in the size to the fifth or last row, which should contain the 

 strongest and tallest of all. Board edgings may be placed around 

 the beds as high or an inch higher than the surface ; this will not 

 only keep the earth from crumbling down from the outside rows, but 

 give a degree of neatness to the whole. 



When the operation of planting is concluded, in order to preserve 

 the bed from heavy rains or severe frosts, it should be arched over 

 with hoops at convenient distances, on which to lay mats or canvas 

 on such emergencies j but it will not be necessary to defend it from 

 moderate rains or slight frosts: for too frequent and long covering 

 will deprive the roots of the due action and influence of the air, 

 which ought to be avoided as much as possible : it were even better 

 not to cover at all than over do it to the certain detriment of the 

 plants. 



Having procured roots of the finest sorts, and pursuing the pre- 

 ceding instructions, you may depend on having those incomparable 

 flowers in the greatest perfection possible. 



The common kinds of tulips, being of little value, may be planted 

 in small patches of three, four, or five roots together, around the 

 borders of the garden or pleasure-ground, and covered the same 

 depth as the others. 



PLANTING THE BEST HYACINTH ROOTS. 



The roots of hyacinths may be planted with good expectation of 

 success at any time from the beginning of this month to the middle 

 of November ; but I would prefer the middle of the present month, 

 as being the best period in which these roots can be planted ; for 

 about that time they will show a natural inclination to vegetate, 

 manifested by a swelling of the circle from whence the fibres pro- 

 ceed, which will be soon followed by an actual appearance of their 

 points, together with that of the foliage at the other extremity of the 

 root, in the form of a small cone of a greenish color. 



The bed on which the finest sorts are -to be planted should be 

 situated in rather a dry and airy part of the garden ; a southern as- 

 pect is to be preferred, sheltered on the north and northwest by walls, 

 trees, or buildings, at a distance from it proportionate to their eleva- 

 tion ; that is, the distance of the bed from either should be equal to 

 the height of the wall, fence, or hedge, &c. 



When the situation is determined on, the dimension of the bed 

 should be marked out and the soil entirely taken away to the depth 

 of at least two feet ; the earth in the bottom should then be dug and 

 well pulverized for about nine inches deep, and the space above filled 

 with the following compost : 



