72 
FLOR A Book I. 
hotter or colder, the feeds will be ready to gather, which may be 
known by the drynefs of the ftalks, and the opening of the feed- 
veffels, which gather,and take up the roots, letting the feeds remain 
inthe pods until the end. of September, and thentake them out , 
which being cleanfed from chaff, may be fowed in beds of fine fifted 
earth, efpecially the more ordinary forts; but thofe of the choiceft 
flowers, muft be fowed in Boxes filled with the fineft earth that can — 
be gotten, in refpect the young roots are apt torun down deep in 
the earth, fo that in beds many of them will be loft: Sow not thefe 
feeds too thick,nor cover them more than a finger thick, in March 
following they will come up with fmall leaves like grafs, andin April 
weed ; and gently water them, as often as you thall find occafion, 
About Mid{ummer, two years after the fowing , you may take them 
up, cleanfe the {mall roots, and fet them again in rows at a wider di- 
ftance, and foevery other year until they come to bear flowers, ftill 
altering the ground with frefh earth and fitted compoft before you 
fet them again ; it will be fix or feven years before the Precoces will 
bear flowers , but the Medias a year or two fooner ; when you fee 
the flowers, mark out the beft, and give them new names, caftin 
away the common reds, yellows , and purples, and referving fuck 
felf-colours chiefly as are light, with blew, purple, or black bottoms 
and Tamis, for fuch often change into fairer flowers , and better 
marked, than many that fhew their beft at firft flowering, 
And although probably many fine flowers may be raifed from the 
feeds of thofe well-marked flowers before mentioned, yet {uch as 
havea good colleétion of Modes or felf-colours, obferving what co- 
lours are apteft to change, and by the bottoms running up into the 
leaves become well marked with feveral colours,doubtlefs by fowing 
the feeds of fach, the produé maybe as anfwerable to expectation; and 
though they come at firft wholly of one colour, yet if that be either 
Orenge,Brimfton, Hair, Dove, Gredeline, z/abe#a, Shamway,or any 
other light or ftrange colour, they are to beefteemed , forin ayear 
or two; many fuch have changed into good marked flowers, and fo 
wich all their increafe continued, 
To haften which effect, let fuch of your colours as are ftrong and 
luxuriant, befer in leanand hungry, but frefh ground, and the next 
year after in that which is fat and well manured ; and fo yearly remo- . 
ved tocontrary foils, untill you obtain the end defired , and fuch 
flowers may be fet in your Garden, and the reft continued, Thelike — 
_ Courfe is held with off-fers, tocaufe them to alter from the original, 
asmany havedone, for the General Bole came from the brows An- 
vers, the Cedanellafrom the Zeablom, and many fine flowers from 
the Brabafon, Turloon, and Widows. 
As for the planting of the beft Tulips ,-a provifion of manured, 
frefh,light fandy earth is neceffary,yearlyto make new beds for them, 
or by taking away that wherein they grew to fupply the place ; forif 
Tulips (asmany good Florifts conclude) be fet twice inthe So 
| . earch, 
