OCT.} FLOWERS. 523 



with a blunt dibble, the ground being previously 

 made quite loose and fine; or they may be placed in 

 flat drills, which is a better method. Alternate beds, 

 or alternate pieces on the same bed, of different-co- 

 loured crocuses, have a very fine effect early in 

 spring, and are the more pleasing on account of the 

 rarity of flowers at that time. 



Frittillarios, Irises, Narcissuses, and Common Tu- 

 Ups, may. be planted in patches of three or four roots 

 in each, at eight or ten inches apart in the patch. 

 The groupes or patches may be distributed as fancy 

 shall direct. In planting these, a spadeful should be 

 lifted and be laid aside ; then stir and break the 

 earth fine, to the depth of a foot ; place the roots 

 and cover them with the earth laid aside, to the 

 depth of four inches. This is a better method of 

 planting, than by the dibble ; as in using it, the 

 roots cannot be so securely placed, there generally 

 being a hollow left under them. 



These, also, may generally be planted in beds four 

 feet wide, with alleys of eighteen or twenty inches 

 between them. The ground should be dug or trench- 

 ed, to the depth of eighteen inches, and broken as 

 fine as possible ; or if it be shallower, to its full 

 depth. Mark off the beds and alleys, and from the 

 former, skim off three inches of the surface, into the 

 latter. Then place the roots, either in lines, length- 

 wise, nine inches asunder, and six in line; or at seven 

 or eight inches square ; pressing them gently down 

 with the hand. Cover them evenly, to the depth of 

 four inches, which will make the alleys two or three 

 inches lower than the beds. The beds should be 



