74 THE PLEASURE, OR [JAN. 



For their reception, choose a dry situation, where the ground is 

 of a light, rich nature. Let it be well digged, breaking the earth 

 fine, and form it into beds of three feet and a half or four feet 

 wide ; rake the surface smooth, and then plant the roots. These 

 roots after planting, should be protected as above, from severe 

 frost, and too much wet : either of which, would at this season ma- 

 terially injure them. 



For the particular method of preparing the beds, and planting the 

 roots, see the work of October. 



In warm, dry and well sheltered situations, in the middle states, 

 and generally in the southern states, these beautiful flowers may- 

 be planted in the open borders in small patches, with other kinds, 

 and will there make a very agreeable appearance. You may plant 

 four or five roots, in a small circle of about six inches diameter, one 

 in the middle and the rest round the extreme part of the circle ; and 

 let these patches or clumps be from two or three to five, ten or 

 twelve feet asunder, and the roots be covered from one to two 

 inches deep, according to the lightness of the ground. 



The above practice, however, of planting those roots in patches 

 about the borders, is meant principally for the common sorts ; for 

 it is necessary to plant the fine varieties together in narrow beds or 

 frames, as above, in order both to have the opportunity of protect- 

 ing them occasionally in severe weather, and that, when in flower, 

 they may display a spacious shew together in their various colours, 

 stripes, and tints, in the different varieties ; and also in the spring, 

 when the plants are in bloom, they can be more readily sheltered 

 from great rains, or too much sun, both of which would hasten the 

 decay of the flowers: and as the pleasure of admiring the bloom is 

 the only intention of cultivating these flowers, no pains should be 

 spared to protect the more beautiful sorts. 



Planting Tulips. 



Tulips, if you have any out of the ground, should now be planted 

 the first settled open weather, to blow late, and to succeed those 

 planted late in autumn. 



Let this be done as soon as the weather will permit ; for if these 

 roots are kept much longer out of the ground, they will blow very 

 poorly. If they are to be planted in beds, let them be made three or 

 four feet wide, raised two or three inches, somewhat rounding, that 

 they may throw off the redundant wet of heavy rains, and remain 

 dry during winter. 



If intended to plant any of the inferior sorts in the borders, in as- 

 semblage with other flowers, they may either be planted in a single 

 row towards the front, or some dotted singly, or by three together, 

 to effect a greater variety : but these flowers, when planted in the 

 borders, make the best appearance in little clumps; that is, in a cir- 

 cle of about six or eight inches, plant four or five roots ; and about 

 from three or four to five or ten feet farther, plant another such 

 clump, and so proceed, in a varied order, towards the front and 

 middle. 



