J'ol APPENDIX. 



stems; and afterwards you may citlier ripen the roots, by lay- 

 ing them upon the top of the beds wherein they blossomed, 

 covering them with a little dry sand, and shading the roots 

 in the hottest sun, with mats betwixt them and the sun, not 

 laid on the earth, but hung as parasols or sun-shades, by 

 which means the roots thus laid, have free air at all times; or 

 at lifting season, you may lay the roots into the root-room, 

 into their respective drawers, to win and dry there by the air 

 and wind, but not in the rays of the sun. 



Any of these methods you may follow ; the nurserymen are 

 for ripening their roots in the earth, as it gives the outward 

 coats or skins of the roots, a harder substance, so as they may 

 pack better to go abroad ; whilst some curious florists follow 

 the other method, with the same success. This last method 

 I chused to practise with my finest hyacinths. Most people 

 who receive hyacinths from Holland, complain that they de- 

 generate, and do not flower well with them a year or two 

 after they receive them : it becomes me to show them, that, 

 provided they observe strictly, a few rules, their hyacinths 

 will blossom for many years, as well as they do in Holland ; 

 and that without such a strict observation of these rules, it 

 cannot be expected. And, 



lmo, It is certain, that most part of our soils in Britain, 

 have more or less clay in them, excepting pure white sand, or 

 dark grey sandy earth, which is found near the sea, or upon 

 grounds where short tufty heath grows; these soils are the 

 most proper for hyacinths, and I always took four shares of 

 old well-rotted cow-dung, one share of pure white sand, and 

 one share of this dark-coloured sandy earth ; and in this soil 

 only will they prosper; for if there is clay in the ground 

 wherein they are planted, their roots turn into a dull skinny 

 unactive bulb, and have not five, instead of fifty fibres, they 

 Bhould emit to furnish a large bold flower. 



%do, Hyacinth roots should never be planted in any place 

 of a garden, wherein water stands in winter, either above or 

 below ground. 



94hy You must use no dung in your compost, but that of 

 COWs; and it must be wry well rotted, and two or three years 

 old ; or for want of this (lung, old rotted tan-bark, or rotted 

 3 of* trees will do. 



4/o, You must not use for this compost, that earth where, 

 "i hyacinths have been often planted, without other crops 



