MAT.] FLOWER-GARDEN. 337 



ing, should, where intended, be taken up, as soon as their leaves 

 decay. 



This ought to be constantly practised, with such as have stood un- 

 re moved two or three years ; in order to separate the offsets, and 

 to select the best roots for new planting; for without this c?re the 

 bulbs would become numerous, and so small as to render the flow- 

 ers very insignificant. The offsets when separated, may be imme- 

 diately planted in beds or prepared borders, to encrease the stock 

 and enlarge their size ; or they may be kept up, as well as the largest 

 of the roots, till found convenient to plant them. 



All these kinds when taken up, should be placed in the shade to 

 dry, and when sufficiently so, preserved in dry sand or saw dust, 

 Sec. till the time of planting ; which, for these, should not be delayed 

 later than October, nor even till then if not taken good care of, as 

 they do not keep well out of ground, especially if exposed long to 

 the air. 



Autumn flowering Bulbs. 



The autumnal Crocuses, Amaryllises, and Colchicums, should 

 be taken up as soon as their leaves decay, the offsets separated and 

 aJl replanted again before the end of July : they are by no means to 

 be kept longer out of the ground, as that would prevent their flqw- 

 ering in due perfection in autumn, which is their proper season. 



Care of Seedling Bulbs, 



The boxes of seedling tulips, hyacinths, narcissuses, and other 

 bulbous kinds, arising from the seeds sown last autumn, should be 

 now placed in the shade, carefully preserved from the mid-day sun, 

 and the plants refreshed now and then with a little water : a small 

 portion of loose earth sifted over them, would be of great benefit. 



Auriculas and Polyanthuses. 



The first week of this month, or immediately after your fine auri- 

 riculas and polyanthuses have done flowering, is a very proper time 

 to re-pot and slip them, as directed in the Flower-Garden for last 

 month ; after which, they must be treated during the summer and 

 autumn, as there advised. See pages 339 and 341, 



Carnations. 



The fine carnations in pots, should now have due care and good 

 attendance, they should be watered according to their necessities, 

 and as their flower stems advance, small neat sticks, for their sup- 

 port, should be placed one in each pot, to which they are to be tied ; 

 these ought to be at least three feet long, tapering a little from the 

 bottom to top and painted green ; they should be substantial and 

 straight, and their lower ends are to be' forced into the earth in the 

 centre of each pot, sufficiently deep and firm, not to be shaken looss 



