T U L 



T U R 



mould, and be rendered useless. The bcgin- 

 iiiiio; "f September is the proper season tor sow- 

 ing the set'd ; for which there should be provided 

 a parcel of shallow seed-pans, or boxes, which 

 should have holes in their bottoms to let the 

 nioisturc pass off; these should be Idled with 

 fiesh sandy earth, laving the surface very even, 

 upon which the seeds should be sown thinly as 

 regularly as possible ; some of the same light 

 sandy earth being sifted over them, about half 

 an inch thick. These boxes or pans should be 

 placed where they may have the morning sun 

 till eleven o'clock, in which situation they may 

 remain imiil October, at which time they 

 should be removed into a more open situation, 

 where they may enjoy the benefit of the sun all 

 the day, and he sheltered from the north winds, 

 where they should remain during the winter sea- 

 son ; but in the spring, wheri the plants ap- 

 pear with grassy leaves, they should be again 

 removed to their first situation ; and if the sea- 

 son be dry they must be refreshed with water 

 while the plants remain green ; but as soon as 

 their tops begin to decay, no more should be 

 given. The boxes should be placed in a shady 

 situation during the summer season, but not 

 under the drip of trees. The weeds and moss 

 should be kept constantly cleared oft' from the 

 surface of the earth in the boxes, and a little 

 fresh earth be sifted over them soon after their 

 leaves decay ; and at Michaelmas they should be 

 fresh earthed again, and as the winter comes on 

 be again removed into the sun as before, and 

 treated in the saine manner, until the leaves de- 

 cay in the spring, when the bulbs should be 

 carefully taken up, and planted in beds of fresh 

 sandy earth, which should have tiles laid under 

 them, to prevent their roots from shooting 

 downward, which they often do when there is 

 nothing to stop them, and are destroyed. The 

 earth of these beds may be about five inches 

 thick upon the tiles, which will be sulficient for 

 nourishing the roots whde young. The distance 

 of planting them need not be more than two 

 inches, nor should they be planted above two 

 inches deep. Toward the end of October, it 

 vill be proper to cover the beds over with a little 

 fresh earth about an inch deep, which will pre- 

 serve the roots from the frost, and prevent moss 

 or weeds from growing over them ; and when 

 the winter is very severe, it may be proper to 

 cover the bed eitherwithmats or peas-haulm, to 

 prevent the frost from entering the ground, as 

 these roots are muf^h tenderer while young, than 

 after they have acquired strength. In the next 

 spring the surface of the ground should be again 

 gently stirred to make it clean, before the plants 

 come up ; and wh,en the spring proves dry, they 



must be frequently refreshed with water in sm:ili 

 portions during the time of their growth ; 

 and when the leaves are decayed, the wccdl 

 should be taken off, and the beds covered with 

 fresh earth, as before, which should also be 

 repealed again in the autumn. When the 

 bulbs have been mana>j;cd in this wav two years, 

 they should in the summer following, when their 

 leaves decay, the roots being by that time con- 

 siderably improved in growth, be affain taken 

 up, and planted in a fresh prepared bed, in 

 drills three or four inches asuniler, in which to 

 remain two years longer; then, at the decay of 

 the leaf, be again planted out into fresh beds, in 

 rowsas before, where they should be let remain to 

 blow, being afterwards ordered as the flowering 

 bulbs. When they are in full flower, they 

 should be examined, in order to mark such of 

 them as discover the best properties, that they 

 may be separated from the others at the proper 

 lifting season, and be replanted in beds by them- 

 selves for breeders; reiuoving them annually at 

 the proper season into diflerent beds of opposite 

 or contrary soils, as one year in poor hungry 

 earth, the next in a much richer mould ; con- 

 tinuing tbem so till they break into variegations 

 and stripes of different colours, which are the 

 only iTiodes by which it can be assisted. When 

 the leaves and flower- stems are decayed and 

 withered, and the roots have ceased growing 

 and drawing nourishment from the earth, it is the 

 proper period for lifting or taking the old roots 

 out of the earth, to reserve them till autumn 

 for planting, being preserved in the manner 

 directed above. 



The early dwarf sorts are the most proper for 

 forcing for early blowing, and also for being 

 placed in glasses, in rooms. Sec. 



The second species may be managed in the same 

 manner. They are all hiKhly ornamental flowers, 

 from their much varied and most beautiful colours. 



TUKF, the green surface or sward cut from 

 pastures, &c., for the purpose of laying down 

 grass-grounds ; as lawns, plats, bowling-greens, 

 &c. 



It is flayed with the turfing-iron, in regular 

 lengths of two or three feet, and afoot wide; 

 and being properly laid down close and regular 

 in the places intended, it immediately forms an 

 even grass sward, which quickly strikes root in 

 the ground, in proper growth and verdure. This 

 sort of work may be performed any time in 

 autumn, winter, and spring, in open weather, 

 or occasionally in summer, in a moist season, 

 but the autumn is the best season. The best 

 turf is mostly procured from fine close fed pas- 

 tures, commons, or downs, &c., where the 

 sward is close and even; or that of any grass 

 3Q2 



