Oct,] 



THE FLOWER GARDEN. 



937 



elevated above the gi'ound-level, that it may the better resist 

 the drought. In forming the bed, a stratum of well-rotted 

 cow-dung should be placed about five inches under the sur- 

 face, and well mixed with the mould below that depth ; but 

 the earth above this stratum, into which the roots are to be 

 planted, should be kept perfectly free of dung, which would 

 be injurious rather than otherwise to the roots of the plants. 

 The fibres of the plants, which are the organs that collect 

 nourishment, will derive sufficient support from the dung at 

 this depth, but if placed deeper would be out of their reach, 

 and would not receive so much advantage from the air, which 

 is held to be of much consequence. 



The roots should be planted in lines, either across the bed 

 or longitudinally, and be not planted deeper than about two 

 inches, and about five inches distant from each other, or less 

 if the roots be small. The better way is to draw drills of that 

 depth, into which the roots should be placed, sprinkling a 

 little clean coarse sand into the drill previously to placing the 

 roots in it. 



JONQUILS. 



These flowers will succeed well in a soil similar to that 

 above recommended for ranunculuses and anemonies. They 

 should be planted five or six inches apart, and about three 

 inches deep. As jonquils do not flower so well the first season 

 after planting, they are therefore generally left in the ground 

 for three, four, and even five years, without being taken up. 



BULBOUS IRISES. 



The earlier in the month that bulbous Irises be planted, 

 the stronger will they flower the following summer ; those 

 which are not planted till spring or late in autumn, seldom 

 flower well, if at all, the season following. They should be 

 planted (if in beds) at eight inches or a foot apart in light rich 

 earth. Bulbous Irises are not taken annually up, once in 

 three or foui' years being considered the better practice. 



6 D 



