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PRACTICE OF GARDENING. 



Insects of various kinds are very destructive to bulbs, 

 and they should therefore be attentively watched, espe- 

 cially about the time they appear above the ground, as, 

 at this period of their growth, slugs are very apt to 

 devour the youug leaves and flower-buds. Plants of this 

 description require a rather rich soil, and one that is 

 moderately retentive of moisture, but not too much so. 

 They should never be planted under the shade of trees or 

 any other shelter, as an exposed situation is indispensable 

 to the production of good flowers. Many of them, such as 

 crocuses and irises, have a very pretty appearance when 

 planted either in rows or otherwise in small beds, particu- 

 larly if care is taken to have a good and pleasing variety of 

 colours. But the best situation for the smaller sorts is 

 along the edges of borders, as near as possible to the walk, 

 where they will not be covered or injured by larger plants, 

 and will produce a very showy efiect. Snow-drops and 

 crocuses are admirably adapted for this purpose ; and if 

 they are judiciously mingled with each other, their appear- 

 ance will be very attractive in the spring months. The 

 dog-tooth violet would also form a pleasing variety, if 

 planted in a similar situation. The larger sorts, such as 

 lilies, should be planted at the back of the border or to- 

 wards the centre of a clump, and these latter must espe- 

 cially be removed every two or three years, as they will 

 never flower well if allowed to remain in the same spot for 

 a longer period, on account of the abundance of certain 

 elements which they abstract from the soil ; a circum- 

 stance which has only been very recently ascertained, but 

 is now placed beyond all question. 



4. — Hardy Biennial Flowering Plants, 

 Biennials are plants which, like annuals, generally die 

 after they have produced their flowers and seeds, but are 

 usually two years in perfecting these, andin many instances 

 may be induced to flower for two or three successive 

 seasons, by preventing them from maturing their seed. 

 '1 hey are, however, naturally only of two years' duration, 

 and hence the term "biennial" has been most appro- 

 priately applied to them. It must not from thence be 

 inferred that none of those plants which come under this 



