£84 



OF F £ O W S R S'y 



SECT. XVIII, 



happens, however, when- propagated from feed, that 

 though fometimes a better, more frequently a lefs beau- 

 tiful flower is produced of many forts ; and this is the 

 reafon why the other modes of propagation arefo tnucii 

 adopted, by offsets, &c. as thus they come identically 

 the fame with the mother plant. Another ob&acfe 

 againft fome forts being fown is, that they are feveral 

 years before they come to bear, as all bulbous, and tu* 

 berous rooted flowers, 



The Dutch have made themfelves famous by their 

 patience and perfeverance in raifing bulh and tubers* 

 and fow every year fome of each kind, which pays then* 

 well, when they meet with an eminently good flower. 

 A new fort of anemone, auricula, carnation, ranunculus?* 

 and even a polyanthus, will frequently fetch a guinea^ 

 and a tulip, or a hyacinth, fometimes ten. 



To raife bulbous and tuberous rooted flowers^ they 

 fhould be fown in boxes (fuppofe three feet long, two 

 wide, and fix inches deep) of light rich earth, about 

 the middle of Aagvjl, or September, and fetting them in 

 a funny fheltered place not under cover. Sow anemone t 

 and ranunculufes a quarter of an inch deep ; irifes, coU 

 chicmns, and cyclamens } half an Inch ; and tulips, frit- 

 tillaries, and hyacinths, near an inch deep, giving water 

 in a dry time, fo as to keep the mould fomewhat moift, 

 but not wet. A little hay may be kept over the feeds 

 till the plants appear, which perhaps will be fprmg 

 with fome. Sowings may take place a 1'fo in March, 

 or April, removing the boxes in May, to where they 

 may have only the morning fun. Thin them a little, 

 if they come up thick, and when the flalks die, put on 

 half an inch of fine mould ; and after the decay of the 

 leaf next fummer, they mull be planted out in nurfery 

 beds, (latter end of Augufl) two, or three inches afun- 

 der, (according to their nature) and fome will blow 

 the following year, as the anemone and ranunculus, &c» 

 though the hyacinth will be four, or five, and the tulip 

 fcven or eight firft. Thefe mult be removed from 



the 



