Apr.] Flower Garden. 203 



But if none was planted in that month, this now is a very 

 good time to begin to put in fome of thele roots. 



Get fome good found roots, which muft be procured 

 every fpring from the feed-fhops, when they come from 

 abroad ; for ihefe roots are fjldom propagated in this coun- 

 try, as they are too tender topfofper in the common ground, 

 fo that there are great quantities imported every year from 

 Italy. Having procured the roots, let the loofe outer ikins 

 be taken off; and if there be any off-fets, let thefe be alfo 

 taken away : then plant the roots in pots of rich light earth ; 

 obferve to put but one root in a pot, and plant it about an 

 inch below the fur face of the earth ; then fet the pots either 

 in a moderate hot-bed, plunging them to their rims in the 

 earth of the bed, or in a bark-bed of a hot-houfe. Sec. 



To thofe in a hot-bed admit only a fmidl portion of air 

 into the bed, till the roots begin to fhoot ; and they mull 

 have but very little water; till then water them m.oderately 

 every other day, and admit freili air every day, by raifmg 

 the glaiTes ; and as the ftems of the plants rife in height, 

 the frame ihoiild be laifsd accordingly, that they may have 

 full liberty to Ihoot ; for the ftems generally rife a yard or 

 more high. Towards the middle or latter end of May, 

 the glalTes may, in fine days, be taken entirely oft; which, 

 hy admitting the free air> v/ill ftren-gthen the plants ,- but 

 put them on every night, and alfo in the day-time, when 

 the weather happens to be very wet or cold. 



But thofe as are placed in a hot-houfe, require no farther 

 care than occafionai waterings^ and frefl-i air in common 

 with the other plants of that department. Sec the Hof-Z^c^/e, 



Thofe roots which are planted now will begin to blow 

 in July ; at which time the plants may be moved to where 

 you think proper, either in the open air;, or into any 

 apartment in the houfe; they will continue to flower for 

 about a monih or fixv/ecks. 



Thofe who would propagate thefe roots muft obferve it 

 is done by oft-fets from the main root, like other bulbs, 

 ^hich may be feparated from the main roots, when out 

 of the ground ; either when taken up at the decay of the 

 ftalk and leaves in autumn, or in fpring, previous to their 

 being planted again ; obferving the faid oiF-fets are to be 

 planted in March, or the beginning of this month, in a 

 bed of perfecliy dry and light -earth; and the bed to be 

 iheltered with a common fr^ame and glafs, till about the 

 K. 6 middle 



