May.] Flower Garden. 237 



the fine kinds of tulips (hould never be permitted to ripen 

 feeds, for thefe vi-ould draw nouriniment and exhauft the root. 



When the ivaves and ftalks of tulips begin to wither and 

 decay, the rocs ili uld then be taken up. 



Some of the early bio ■ ing kinds will b : ready for this by 

 the laft week in he month ; if they be, let them be taken 

 up in a d'-y day, and clean them well, and take oiFall the 

 loofe outer Ikins. 



Then fpread the roots on a mat, in a dry fhady place, 

 to harden a little ; and after this, let them be put up in 

 bags or boxes, till the feafon for planting them. 



Bulbous Jle^wers in general done blo-votng. 



Spring crocus-rojio of all forts, and fnow-drops, and all 

 other bulbous flower-roots as have done blowing, ihould 

 alfo, where intended, be taken up when their leaves decay. 



This fhould be conftantly pradlifed to fuch as have ilood 

 unremoved two or three years, and increafed into large 

 bunches, and that you defire to have the feveral kinds of 

 bulbs produce large and handfome flowers ; for when the 

 roots are taken up, all the fmall roots or off-fets, are to 

 be immediately feparated from the principal ones, and re- 

 ferve only the largell roots by themfelves, to plant again 

 in the proper places, to blow next year. 



But, however, the crocus and fnow-drops, and the like 

 common kinds of bulbs, may, if neceflary, remain two or 

 three years or more in the ground j but the other larger 

 kinds you Ihould not omit taking them up the third feafon, 

 becaufe they will then be grown into large cluflers ; and, 

 if permitted to remain longer in that condition, their 

 flowers would be fmall and of little worth. 



The roots when taken up muft be properly dried in the 

 ihade, and afterwards put up till planting time, which is 

 September, Oftober, and November, or any time in open 

 weather till February. 



Autumn Flo^wermg Bttlbs, 

 The leaves of fuch bulbs as blow in autumn, will, 

 about the latter end of this month be decayed j which, 

 when it is intended to take up or tranfplant any of the forts, 

 is the only proper time to remove them, and which may 

 be done any time from about the end of May to the fame 

 time in June, as the roots th«n do not grow, or draw 



nourifhmefit 



