930 THE PRACTICAL GARDENER. [Oc/. 



spaces iTvay be reduced in size, and the pieces taken oflf and 

 planted out where they are to remain. 



PLANTING BULBOUS ROOTS. 



Any time this month, bulbous roots of all kinds may be 

 planted with success. Those who cultivate these flowers to a 

 considerable extent, either for amusement or profit, have dif- 

 ferent seasons for planting, so as to prolong the season of 

 flowering to a greater length of time. But, for general pur- 

 poses, October, November, February, and March, are gene- 

 rally chosen. 



Bulbous-rooted plants differ in their mode of cultivation 

 from most other plants, inasmuch as the majority of plants, 

 when once planted, remain to occupy the same space for some 

 Icnoth of time, some for years and others during their lives ; 

 whereas bulbs, for the most part, require to be taken up once 

 every other year, and all the most valuable ones, annually. 

 The reason assigned for this difference of cultivation is, that 

 most bulbs multiply ^exceechngly fast, that is, great numbers 

 of young bulbs originate under ground, from the sides of the 

 parent bulb, and in a short time would send up a superfluous 

 number of stems, much more than could be properly nourished 

 on the area on which they grow ; and these would, as a con- 

 sequence, choke each other, and finally decay. Other species 

 of bulbous-rooted plants form their young bulbs under the 

 parent one, and thus, in the course of a few years, recede so 

 far from the surflice, that they are unable to penetrate through 

 the depth of mould over them, and, as a consequence, cease 

 to appear ; while others, which form their new bulbs over the 

 parent ones, at last come above the surface, and are killed by 

 frosts, droughts, and other causes. 



Florists, who are the best managers of these matters, take 

 up their most valuable varieties annually ; and the superin- 

 tcndants of flower gardens content themselves with taking up 

 the least valuable, or what are termed border-flowers, once in 

 two, three, or even four years, unless the place occupied with 

 bulbs be intended to be occupied with something else during 

 dieir season of inactivity. 



