PRACTICE OF GARDENING. 



Part III. 



590 



and even, and have the exact situ- 

 ation for every bulb marked upon it 

 (jig. 590.), regularly mingling the co- 

 ors of red, blue, and white ; the yel- 

 lows being classed with the latter. 

 The width of the surface of the bed 

 may be four feet, and six rows may be 

 placed across it at eight inches asun- 

 der, the two outside rows being each 

 four inches from the sides of the bed ; 

 consequently the space between the 

 centre of each bulb will be about nine 

 inches and a quarter. On planting 

 hyacinths, a little clean sand should 

 be placed underneath, and likewise 

 upon the roots, to prevent the earth 

 adhering too closely to them ; the 

 whole are then to be covered with 

 sound fresh sandy earth, from three to 

 four inches deep, according to the size of the bulb ; when this is completed, the bed will be about eight 

 inches above the level of the walk on the south or front side, and about fourteen inches on the north ; it 

 will look neater and have a better effect, if it is supported on each side with a strong frame of thick 

 boards or brick-work. 



6233. The Butch Florist directs, " After a place has been pitched on for planting the flowers, the natural 

 earth must be dug out to the depth of three feet, and the bottom covered with a stratum of cow-dung half 

 a foot thick ; which must be beaten and trod down till it be very firm and compact like a hard crust, so as 

 to prevent any communication with the sub-soil. Then the hole is to be filled up with compost, six inches 

 above the level of the garden. The compost should be laid into the designed bed about a month before 

 the roots are planted ; for if it be put in later, the earth might settle while the roots are in it, which would 

 lay them too deep. The proper season for putting in the bulbs is October and November. They ought to 

 be set at the depth of four or five inches ; but early flowering varieties may be one inch deeper, which will 

 bring them to flower at the same time with the others." (Quot. by Neill, in Hort. Tour, 537.) 



6234. Culture. " In order to preserve it from very heavy rains or severe frosts, it should be hooped over, 

 and mats or canvass should be placed at hand ready to cover the bed on such emergencies ; but it will not 

 be necessary to defend it from moderate rains or slight frosts: for too frequent and long covering will de- 

 prive the roots of the due action and influence of the air, which ought to be avoided as much as possible : 

 it were even better to run the hazard of incurring a slight injury by the omission of covering on some oc- 

 casions, than overdo it to the certain detriment of the plants. If frost is permitted to penetrate so far into 

 the soil as to reach the bulbs, especially about the time that the plants begin to appear above ground, it 

 will produce a singular effect, by causing some of them to shoot forth or discharge their stems and blos- 

 soms ; but if the roots become entirely frozen through, they are in danger of being destroyed. The earlier 

 sorts will begin to open and show color about the beginning of April ; it will be proper to screen such from 

 the too powerful effects of the sun, which, if not prevented, would bleach and tarnish their colors, parti- 

 cularly the reds and deep blues ; but if they are properly defended from it, their colors will be preserved, 

 and they will, in some measure, be kept back, so as to be in full bloom with the later sorts, especially if the 

 roots of the early sorts have been planted about an inch deeper than the rest : it is a very desirable object 

 to have a uniform bloom. It will be necessary to support the stems as they advance in height ; for this 

 purpose, small sticks or wires, painted green, should be forced into the ground, immediately behind the 

 bulbs, either in an erect position or leaning a little backwards, to which the stems are to be rather loosely 

 tied with small pieces of green worsted, as soon as they begin to bend, or are in danger of breaking with 

 the weight of the corolla or bells : this operation must be repeated as they advance in height, for it is im- 

 possible to do it at one time so as to answer the purpose. When the greater part of the bed appears in 

 color, a covering, or awning, should be erected over it and the path in front : the awning should consist 

 of a strong frame of wood, ten feet high in the centre, and seven feet at the sides, covered with Irish or 

 Scotch sheetings, or Russia duck, which will effectually keep out rain, and admit a great degree of light; 

 it should come down close to the bed on the north side, in order to preserve it from cold winds, which are 

 prejudicial to the bloom. The covering (fig. 591.) should be 

 so const urcted, by means of lines (a) and pulleys (b), as to be 

 easily and expeditiously rolled up, or let down, as occasion 

 requires, to afford the plants the full benefit of light and air, 

 at all favorable opportunities, that is to say, when the air is 

 mild, and light clouds intervene, so as to blunt the sun's ray. 

 This sometimes, and, indeed, often happens to be the case 

 from seven to nine o'clock in the morning, and from four to 

 six in the evening, at which time the sun has also less power 

 than in the middle of the day. A bed of hyacinths never 

 requires to be watered at any period ; the rains that happen 

 after planting are generally more than sufficient both for 

 the roots and the bloom ; and after the bloom is over they 

 are rather prejudicial than otherwise, except when very 

 moderate. Although covering in the manner described 

 presents and exhibits the bloom to the greatest advantage, 

 yet it evidently has a tendency to weaken and injure the 

 bulbs, and ought not, therefore, to be continued more than 

 two or three weeks at most ; but as soon as the general 

 bloom declines, the beds should be immediately exposed to 

 the open air, and the mats and hoops should be replaced, as before, to keep off heavy rains." 



6235. Taking up the bulbs. " It is the practice in Holland, to take up the bulbs about three weeks or a 

 month after bloom, in the following manner : As soon as the plants begin to put on a yellowish decayed ap- 

 pearance, they take up the roots and cut off the stem and foliage close to, or within half an inch of the 

 bulb, but leave the fibres, &c. attached to it ; they then place the bulbs again on the same bed sideways, 

 with their points towards the north, and cover them about half an inch deep, with dry earth or sand in 

 the form of a ridge, or little cone, over each : in this state they remain about three weeks longer, and dry 

 or ripen gradually ; during which, as much air is admitted as possible, but the bed is preserved from heavy 

 rains, and too hot a sun ; at the expiration of this period the bulbs are taken up, and their fibres which are 

 become nearly dry, gently rubbed off; they are then placed in a dry room for a few days, and are afterwards 

 cleaned from any soil that adheres to them, their loose skins taken off, with such offsets as may be easily 

 separated. When this dressing is finished, the bulbs are wrapped up in separate pieces of paper, or buried 

 in dry sand, where they remain till the return of the season for planting. Another, and less troublesome, 

 mode of treatment after bloom, though perhaps more hazardous, is to keep the bed airy, and rather dry, 

 till the stems and foliage appear nearly dried up or consumed ; this will seldom happen to be the case in less 

 than two months ; the bulbs are then to be taken up, cleaned from the fibres, soil, &c. and preserved in 

 sand or papers as before directed." 



