The Gardener's New Director. 309 



There being many who are fond of this flower, yet 

 for want of leiiure, are not able to attend to more gene- 

 ral dire6^ions ; tlierefore, for their eafe, I fhall lay be- 

 fore them fuch an abflratl, with fome obfervations as, 

 I flatter myfelf, \'. ill be no lefs acceptable than eflfe^lual. 



Some Direclions to be particularly at traded to, in Regard to 

 the Hyacinth. 



jmo ,» I \Q judge if the foil, wherein you plant your /7y- 

 X aci?itbs, be agreeable to them, weigh the roots, 

 marking down their refpedive weights; and when you 

 have taken them up, and they aie dry, weigh thtm 

 again, and if found lighier than before, be afTurcd your 

 ground has been too poor, but if your roots are incrcafed 

 in fize, and are yet lighter, then the dung has been too 

 foon fet to work, that is, before it has been fufficiently 

 rotted, or, which is more probable, that it has been 

 horfe, inftead c' cow dung, which, when mixed with 

 fand, is too powerful. 



And, 2'*''. Tfc) their juices not flowing regularly, mud 

 be attributed their rotting, for when they ftagnate, they 

 cannot maintain their co.iis or fkins, when rottennels 

 enlues. 



3''°. I have- often obferved at lifting, that their roots 

 are feemingly burfling on one fide, and fometimes at the 

 lower part ot the bulb: This is a furefign, that their fibres 

 have been cramped in going down into the foil by clay 

 or fl:ones, or that they have perifhtd in the winter by 

 flagnated water, or, not fufFciently covered, fo that their 

 fibres have periflied by cold, or, have been planted in a 

 loo hot foil, and not lifted in proper time. 



To remedy thefe evils, let your comports be rotting 

 for two years, to be incorporated at leafb one before 

 ufed, excluding clay or any coherent particles; but let 

 it be rich, frefh, foft, and very fnungv, fo as to allow their 

 fibres to play at plcalure, for upon tlu-ir number depends 

 your fuccefs; cover their beds in winter, with old tan from 

 the alle)"-, and over it [ay peafe haulm, when it will be 

 beyond the power of frolls to harm tiiem. And, /.' 77/)', 



y obferyc 



