CULTURE OF THE TUBEROSE. ij^ 



be done by sloping the ground more up to it, or if you have 

 a cucumber frame not in use, it may be employed for this 

 purpose, taking care to sink the front so low as to admit all 

 the sun possible. About the first week in December, take 

 the advantage of a dry day, and after clearing away all tlie 

 decaj-ed leaves, thatch the bed all over, and at the sides, a 

 foot thick with dry straw, sloping it well to throw off the 

 wet. 



About the middle of February, if not prevented by se- Roots tote 

 vere frost, take up all the roots, preserving their fibres, and F^jifru^y '° 

 pack them in very dry sand, in cellars v.here the cold cannot 

 penetrate till April, when they must be replanted as before, and replanted 

 shortening their fibres more or less, as you find them de- * 

 cayed. If the climate was even milder than ours, I should 

 recommend the roots to be taken out of the ground, and pre- 

 served in dry sand, for it throws them into a complete state 

 of rest, and disposes them to form their flower stems earlier. 

 Many offsets will by this time have made their appearance 

 round each root, all of which, except two or three at most 

 of the strongest, should be cut entirely out, and this opera- 

 tion must be in some degree repeated after they are planted 

 and growing, as fresh offsets are produced, for, if permitted 

 to remain, they will rob the other buds of sufficient nourish- 

 ment. 



.This second year some of the largest roots will probably Management 

 flower: if they send up their stems early it will only be xje- yg^r^ 

 cessary to stick them carefully, when about a foot and a half 

 high, and leave them to blossom in the open air ; but when 

 they appear later than July, they should either be removed 

 into pots, with a trowel, preserving all the fibres possible, 

 and placed in a stove, or if you have not that convenience, 

 cut out the flower stem, with all the central leaves, as soon 

 as it is discovered, which will strengthen the offsets. In the 

 succeeding winter thatch the bed, taking up the ro«ts in Fe- 

 bruary, as before, most of which will now be strong enough 

 to flower, and may be selected for sale : such roots, if wanted 

 for early forcing, will have a decided advantage over imported 

 ones, for, as their fibres will not be entirely decayed, they 



will 



