2^6 The Pleasure, or [May. 



.beginning to decay, let the roots then be taken up ; but 

 in particular the fine double kinds. 



As foon as thefe roots are taken up, they fhould be fpread 

 to dry and harden ; or, to efFe£l this in a gradual man- 

 ner, and to improve the roots more efFedually for keep- 

 ing, it is recommended that the roots be immediately 

 committed to the ground again, not in the manner of 

 planting as before, but laid fideways into a ridge of dry 

 lighr earth, covering the roots, but leaving the ftalks and 

 leaves out of the ground, and thus to remain two or three 

 weeks ; in order, that as the bulbs and ftalks being at this 

 period very replete with humidity, the redundant moifture 

 may be gradually exhaled by the warmth cf the fun, 

 which would othervvife be apt to rot the bulbs; likewife, by 

 lying the above time in this ridge of earth, the roots plump 

 and harden, which will be well efFefted by that time the 

 flalks and leaves are perfedlly decayed. 



The method of preparing the bed, and laying in the 

 roots, is this : 



Let a bed wherein the hyacinths grew, or any other bed 

 of light earth, be broken up, one fpade deep, breaking 

 all clods perfeftly well ; then rake the earth up, from each 

 fide of the bed, towards the middle, fo as to form an eafy 

 jounding kind of ridge, lengthways of the bed. 



In this ridge of earth the roots are to be laid ; obferv- 

 ing that they are not now to be placed with their bottom 

 downwards, but each muft be laid fairly on its fide, with 

 the llalks and leaves hanging out. 



In thatpofition, let them be laid in two or three rows, 

 nn each fide the ridge, placing the roots about two inches 

 afunderin the row, and fee that all the roots be equally 

 covered with the earth. 



When the roots have lain in this bed about twenty or 

 twenty-five days, they will be thoroughly hardened and 

 fipened, and muft then be taken out of the ground in a 

 dry day, the ftalks and leaves trimmed off, and well clean- 

 ed ; then fpread upon a mat, in a dry Ihady place, and in 

 ten or twelve days after put up into boxes till September 

 or 0(5lober, then planted again. 



Tulips done hlovjing. 

 When tulips arepaft flowering, let the feed-pod be im- 

 "mediately feparated from the top of the flower- ftalk j for 



the 



