Oct] 



THE FLOWER GARDEN. 



935 



with light rich sandy mould, into which the bulbs should be 

 planted about half, or rather more, of the bulb being under the 

 mould. When the bulbs are large and sound, one may be 

 enough for one pot, but if they be small, and apparently 

 weak, two or three may be placed in each pot. When planted, 

 the whole should be placed on a dry level surface, and covered, 

 to the depth of six or ten inches, with decayed tanners' bark, 

 rotten leaves, or fine sand. They will, in such situations, soon 

 emit fibres, and the pressure of matter above them will pre- 

 vent them from being forced out of the pots, which would in 

 many cases occur if they were not thus covered. From this 

 situation they are to be taken as wanted, and placed in a 

 slight bottom-heat in frames or pits ; taking the first set into 

 heat, say in November, and they will be fine in bloom at 

 Christmas. 



PLANTING HYACINTHS IN THE FLOWER BORDERS. 



The more common varieties of hyacinths, which are to be 

 planted in the borders of the flower garden, will succeed well 

 if planted at this season, where they are to remain to flower. 

 The only preparation that is necessary for them is to loosen 

 the spot where each patch of two or three bulbs is to be 

 planted, to the depth of a foot. If the soil be strong and damp, 

 a little sea or river sand may be added to it, to render it more 

 light ; but, in any ordinary good flower garden soil, the more 

 hardy varieties will succeed perfectly w^ell. 



PLANTIiNG TULIPS. 



According to our previous observations respecting hyacinths, 

 the Dutch have also been long celebrated for their skill in the 

 cultivation of the tulip. This flower, although it reached this 

 country probably nearly as soon as it reached Holland, still 

 our earlier gardeners did not attend to its cultivation with that 

 enthusiasm which characterized their neighbours on the con- 

 tinent. It is supposed to have reached Europe in 1559, and we 

 are informed that it was cultivated in England so soon after as 

 1577. It became an article of considerable trade in the Ne- 

 therlands about the middle of the seventeenth century ; and to 



