2g6 The Gardener's New Director. 



fued, for the purpofe of knowing when the roots are ready 

 for Ufting, is, to take the earth from the top of the hulbs, 

 if the leaves and flower-ilem are healthy, and appear 

 fmaller at the bulb than at the fiirface of the bed ; 

 you may then be aflured, the enfuing flower and leaves 

 are fully formed, fo that they fhould be immediately 

 lifted, for fear of their rotting; when they are lifted, 

 they are to be treated as before directed, viz. to have 

 their leaves and (itm immediately cut off, and direflly 

 laid with their reipe6tive labels in their boxes in the 

 root- room, to dry by the air and wind, but not by the 

 rays of the fun, obftrving not to take any of their fibres 

 off, allowing them to wither ; as the bulb is never injured 

 by the fibres being fufFered to decay jn this manner, 

 but by fuffering their flems and leaves to be bruifed ; 

 when tliefe are removed, you may ripen the roots by 

 laying them upon the top of the beds wherein tlicy blof- 

 fomed, covering them with a litile dry fand, and fliading 

 them in the hotted funfliine with matts, not laid on the 

 earth, but hung as fun-fhades, by which means the roots 

 will have free air to ripen, the better to preferve them 

 until the feafon for planting returns. 



The latter is moft pra6tifedby nuifery-men, as it gives 

 the outward coat or fkin of the roots a harder fubftance, 

 fo as the better to pack for exportation, while others 

 follow the firft, which is that I pra£iife for the faving 

 of my fined Hyacinths^ and which others purfue with no 

 lefs fuccefs. 



From an exact attention to the following rule?, I have 

 had my flowers fo much in their prime, as not to dege- 

 nerate ; an almoil; univerial complaint. 



ifl:. It is certain, that mofl: part of our foils in Britain 

 have more or lefs clay in them, except the pure white 

 fand, or dark grey fandy earth, which is found near the 

 fea, or where fhort tutty heath grows. Thefe foils are 

 mod proper for Hyacinths', and it was my praclife totake 

 three parts of old well rotted cow-dung, one of pure 

 white fand, with one part of dark coloured fandy earth, 

 and another of well rotted, and fine fifted tan ; in this 

 compod th'vy thrive v/ell, but where there is any 



mixture 



