238 The Pleasurb, or [May- 



nouriihment from the ground. It is necciTary that thcfe 

 bulbs be taken up every two or three years at lead, to 

 feparate fhe increafed cif-fets from the main bulbs ; and by 

 thefe ofF-iets you g;un an increafe of roots, feme of which 

 will flower the foilov/ing autumn, and moft: of thefe ths 

 next year; and by diveiling the main root of the off-fets, 

 it will confeqnently flower much ftronger. 



The colchicums and autumnal crocus, will be in con- 

 dition for the above pra<5lice; that is, for removing or 

 tranfplanting, by the end of the month or beginning of 

 next; and alfo the yellow autumnal narciffus, and fuch 

 other autumnal flowering bulbs, whofe leaves now begin 

 to decay. 



Theymuftbe taken up in dry v/eather, and the fmall 

 off-fets carefully feparated from the main root ; and they 

 may then either be planted again immediately, or m.ay 

 be fpread upon a mat, out of the fun to dry : they may 

 then be put up till the lail week in July, or the firlt 

 week in Angufl; ; when they are to be planted again, for 

 flowering the fame year, in Augufl and September, &c. 



Reafons for taking up bulbous Roots after foiuering. 



By this method of taking the choiceft bulbous roots of 

 any kind out of the ground, as foon as the leaves decay, 

 it prevents them receiving any damage, either by drought, 

 or the vehement heat of the fun, or by too much moifture ; 

 and it alfo prevents the roots from exhaufting themfelves 

 tco much, but efpecially if it Ihould prove a wet fum- 

 mer ; becaufe they would foon put out new fibres, and 

 the roots would all fet to growing at an.undefirable fea- 

 fon ; and being thus taken up, and retained two or three 

 days out of the ground, they blow ftronger the future 

 year. 



Befides, itisnecelTary totake up all kinds of curious bulb- 

 ous roots once every year, in order to feparate the fmall off- 

 fets from each of the principal roots, particularly tulips and 

 hyacinths ; but narciffufes, jonquils, iriies, common tulips, 

 &c. and all other of the like common kinds of bulbs, occa- 

 fionallymay remain two or even three years without removal : 

 it will, however, be proper to take up every fort once in 

 the above time ; and there is no time fo proper to take them 

 Dp, as when the leaves and flower-ftalks of the different 

 kiuds begin to decay, for then the roots are in a Hate of 



reft i 



