52 On the Cultivation of the Polianthes Tuberosa. 



December, take the advantage of a dry day, and after clearing 

 away all the decayed leaves, thatch the bed all over, and at 

 the sides, a foot thick with dry straw, sloping it well to throw 

 off the wet. About the middle of February, if not prevented 

 by severe frost, take up all the roots preserving their fibres, 

 and pack them in very dry sand, in cellars where the cold 

 cannot penetrate, till April, when they must be replanted as 

 before, shortening their fibres more or less, as you find them 

 decayed. — If the climate was even milder than ours, I should 

 recommend the roots to be taken out of the ground, and pre- 

 served in dry sand, for by this means they are thrown into a 

 complete state of rest, and disposed to form their flower stems 

 earlier. By February many offsets will have made their appear- 

 ance round each root, all of which, except two or three at most 

 of the strongest, should be cut entirely out, and this opera- 

 tion must be in some degree repeated after they are planted 

 and growing, as fresh offsets are produced ; for, if permitted to 

 remain, they will rob the other buds of sufficient nourishment. 

 This second yearsomeof the largest roots will probably flower: 

 if they send up their stems early, it will only be necessary to 

 stick them carefully, when about a foot and a half high, and 

 leave them to blossom in the open air ; but when they appear 

 later than July, they should either be removed into pots, with 

 a trowel, preserving all the fibres possible, and placed in a 

 stove, or, if you have not that convenience, cut out the flower 

 stem, with all the central leaves, as soon as it is discovered, 

 which will strengthen the offsets. In the succeeding winter 

 thatch the bed, taking up the roots in February, as before, 

 most of which will now be strong enough to flower, and may 

 be selected for sale : such roots, if wanted for early forcing, 



