60 CULTIVATION. 



the surface of the surrounding walks, by neat 

 boarding. For the purpose of levelUng the surface 

 for planting, marking the places of the bulbs, and 

 regulating the surface afterwards, he has invented 

 a gauge called a strike. This strike is made of 

 a thin light board, one foot longer than the width 

 of the bed, and about seven inches broad. Its 

 under edge, which is used for levelling the bed to 

 receive the roots, and marking their places, has 

 notches, three and a half inches deep, near each 

 end, which fit on the upper edge of the side 

 boards ; and, on being moved backwards or 

 forwards by a man at each end, lays the surface 

 in the desired form ; the lower edge being- 

 curved for the purpose, so as to leave the surface 

 of the mould about two inches higher in the 

 middle than at the sides. Thus levelled, the 

 bed is ready to receive the bulbs ; their places 

 are marked by means of the strike. Seven rows 

 are planted lengthways of the bed, at the dis- 

 tance of seven inches between ; leaving three 

 inches at each side betwixt the outside rows and 

 the boards. The places of the rows are marked 



