1 86 GA RDENING BY M YSELF. 



exercise your taste in suiting the bulb to^ 

 the setting. Let nothing too elaborate spoil 

 the simple beauty of crocuses and snow- 

 drops ; and give tulips a holder which shall 

 be dark and rich rather than gay. I believe, 

 for me, there is nothing so pleasant as the 

 plain red flower-pot, Avith its fresh brown 

 earth, for any house plant, — making no pre- 

 tensions, it seems to accomplish the more ; 

 yet I have enjoyed a hyacinth in a glass very 

 much, and some of the new crocus glasses 

 are extremely pretty. As for porcupines, 

 and beehives, and all the other enormities 

 to which crocuses are sometimes condemn- 

 ed, I think they are just — worse than tur- 

 nips ! Could I say more ? 



As soon as your dahlia stalks are touched 

 with the frost, cut them down ; and either 

 take up the roots at once, or leave them 

 (some say) to ripen for a week. Store them 

 in dry sand, and keep them dry and warm. 

 Not in a hot place, of course, but more than 

 just above freezing; and so with your glad- 

 iolus roots. Take up the cannas rather ear- 



