288 OF FLOWERS. SECT. X V 1 1 1 , 



It is not abfoluiely neceffary to take bulbs and tubers 

 up every year, as every fecond or third may do ; but 

 it is the common practice of gardeners to do fo, be- 

 caufe it gives an opportunity to remove the offfets for 

 propagation, and the mother bulbs are .thus ftrengthen- 

 ed, as alfo from the renewed foil they meet with by a 

 frefh plantation. Some people fuffer bulbous roots to 

 remain many years without taking up ; but then they 

 cramp and ftarve one another, and are apt to go off 

 from their original beauty. 



Bulbs and tubers may be either replanted immediately 

 on being taken up, or kept out of ground during their 

 natural periods of reft ; or for fome forts even longer, 

 as Anemony and Ranunculus, for feveral months. Au- 

 tu?nn flowering bulbs are to be taken up in May, if their 

 leaves are decayed. 



Spring flowering bulbs fliould be replanted in Sep* 

 Umber or Oclcber ; thofe of the fummer in Oclober, or 

 November; and thofe of autumn in July or Augujl. A 

 little before, or after, is not very material ; only when 

 they are put in tqo foon, the Spring ones come fo for- 

 ward as to be liable to be damaged in fevere winters, 

 and fprings ; and when kept out of the ground too long, 

 the bulbs fpend themfelves firft in making roots. The 

 Jcaly bulbs (as lilies) mould not be kept out of the 

 ground above a month or fix weeks. Thofe that 

 flower in fummer, may be put in the ground at different 

 times, as early and late in autumn, and early in the 

 new year, (not later than February) to obtain a fuc- 

 €effion of blow. If any are put in at the end of February 

 or beginning of March, they fhould remain two years 

 for increafe. This is a common practice with the 

 anemone and ranunculus ; but when planted in %vintcr % 

 the foil fliould be a dry one, or made fo, by digging in a 

 good quantity of fine fea-coal afhes, and coarfe, or drift 

 fand ; elfe they are apt to rot, if much wet falls, before 

 they have ftarted fibres, efpecially when followed by 



fharp 



