ON REARING FLOWERS. 



157 



the ground, with the view of keeping the roots cool and 

 moist. When the flower-stems appear, if it is desked to 

 have the flowers fine, all the stems should be removed 

 but three or four, and if the flowers manifest any dis- 

 position to burst, a band of garden matting should be 

 fastened round them, which will efiectually prevent this 

 deficiency. If new sorts are desh'ed, these maybe obtained 

 from seeds, which, however, are seldom produced. 



Tulips and hyacinths, being bulbs, require a very differ- 

 ent treatment to those florists' flowers hitherto noticed. 

 Like all other bulbs, they mtist be removed from the soil 

 dui'ing a certain period, and again replaced in it before 

 they recommence growing. Tulips and hyacinths may be 

 both propagated by seeds, though these will produce new 

 vaiieties, and this method therefore is seldom employed 

 except by florists. The usual mode of propagating them 

 is by off'sets, which are generally produced each year, and 

 will flower afcer about two years from the time of separa- 

 ting them. The bulbs should be planted in beds, if pos- 

 sible, in an exposed situation, in the month of Xovember; 

 but these remarks apply more particularly to tulips, as 

 hyacinths are seldom planted in the open gi'ound. The 

 soil most suitable is a rich turfy loam, manui^ed with a 

 small portion of well-rotted horse-duug ; and in a bed of 

 this compost the bulbs should be planted in rows, at six 

 inches apart either way, and inserted in the soil by means 

 of a dibble to the depth of three or four inches. As 

 soon as the leaves appear, the plants should be attentively 

 watched, to prevent the attacks of insects, which atten- 

 tion will hkewise be necessary through the whole period 

 of then' growth. When the flowers appear, if some slight 

 shading can be afibrded them, they will continue in bloom 

 a much greater length of time ; and the taller-growing 

 sorts, which of course should be planted in the centre of 

 the bed, will probably requh^e supporting with slender 

 stakes. As soon as the flowers have fallen, if seed is not 

 deshed, the seed-pod should be picked ofl*, which will 

 promote the decay of the leaves and the ripening of the 

 bulbs : and when the leaves and stem have completely 

 decayed, the bulbs should be taken from the soil in dry 

 weather, and kept in dry boxes or di^awers till the time 



p 



