JAN.] FLOWER-GARDEN. 75 



Observe that hyacinths, tulips, and other hardy bulbs, which, to 

 do them justice, ought to be planted in October, or early in Novem- 

 ber; should have lighter, or more shallow covering, in proportion 

 to the length of time they are kept out of ground after that period ; 

 for instance, tulips which ought to get four inches of light covering 

 in October, will not be able to bear more than three in December, 

 two and a half in January, two in February, and one and a half if 

 kept up till March ; for many of the bulbous kinds become so ex- 

 hausted by keeping them too long out of the ground, that if planted 

 at the usual depth, they have not strength to bear up through it, 

 and ultimately perish. However, this partial remedy ought by no 

 means to induce to the keeping of bulbous roots out of ground 

 after their proper season ; but by attending to it, roots may be pre- 

 served, that would otherwise perish, and which, by planting in due 

 time the succeeding season, may produce tolerable good flowers, 

 and an encrease of their kinds. 



Be particular, never at any season, or under any circumstance, 

 to give less covering to any kind of a bulbous or tuberous root, when 

 planted in the open ground, than one inch over the crown or upper 

 part. 



Planting Crocuses and Snoiv-drofis. 



Any sort of crocuses may still be planted, if dry mild weather ; 

 generally planting them along the edges of the flower-borders, next 

 the walks, and in flower-beds, &c. commonly within five or six 

 inches of the edge, either in a continued row, or dotted in little 

 patches, planted about one inch and half deep : though those de- 

 signed for the borders appear to greater advantage when disposed 

 in small patches, than in any other way. Draw a small circle 

 with your finger, about four or five inches diameter ; in the middle 

 plant one root, and plant three or four round the edge of the cir- 

 cle : about eighteen inches or two or three feet farther, make ano- 

 ther circle, and plant the roots as above ; and so proceed to the 

 end of the border, &c ; or may vary the patches, in having some 

 near the edge, and others more towards the middle : observing, if 

 you have different kinds, to plant each sort separate ; and if you 

 plant the first patch with yellow crocuses, plant the next with blue, 

 and so proceed with others of different sorts. 



Snow-drops may also now be planted, in the same manner as the 

 crocuses ; but neither of them, when planted so late, flower well the 

 spring following ....the former,in particular, will totally perish if kept 

 much longer out of the ground. These kinds ought to have been 

 planted in September, or early in October, for being flowers of early 

 bloom they do not agree with being kept up after their proper time 

 of planting. 



When you desire a considerable increase of crocus's, or snow- 

 drops, take up the roots but once in two years ; if you let them re- 

 main longer, though the increase will be numerous, the roots be- 

 come very small and produce but poor flowers. 



