April.} CARE OF CHOICE BULBS. 85 
cially large plants. If the weather sets in dry and hot, they 
should be watered as often as necessity shall direct. 
Those that are established, it will be necessary to go over 
them (if not already done) to cut off all wood killed in 
winter, and also to thin them if too thick and crowded. 
When the above is done, let every part of the shrubbery 
be dressed off as directed in March. Shrubs of all kinds 
will now begin to look gay and lively, which may be very 
much heightened or depreciated, according to the state in 
which the ground and contiguous walks are kept. Always 
keep in view that weeds are no objects of beauty. 
CARE OF CHOICE BULBS. 
Hyacinths of the earliest sorts will begin to expand and 
show their colours ; of which we can boast of a few as fine 
sorts in the vicinity of Philadelphia as in any garden of 
Europe ; but even these very superior sorts, when in bloom, 
are too frequently neglected, being allowed to stand without 
rods, stakes, or any means of support, likewise equally ex- 
posed to drenching rains and scorching suns ; and the finest 
collections may be seen after heavy rains prostrate on the 
ground, whereas a few hours' trouble would give them the 
requisite support, thereby preserving their beauty much 
longer, and giving more gratification. As soon as the stems 
advance to any height, they should be supported by wires, 
rods, &c., and tied slightly thereto with threads of matting, 
or any other substitute ; repeat the tying as they advance, 
avoid tying among the florets, because they grow by exten- 
sion, and are liable to be broken off by so doing. The sun 
deteriorates the colours very much, especially the red, blue, 
and yellow sorts ; whereas, if they were simply protected 
from the sun by an awning of thin canvass, the colours would 
be preserved and the beauty protracted. If there are stakes 
drove into the ground on each side of the beds, about three 
feet high, with others in the centre about eight feet, having 
laths or hoops from the side to the centre, formed similar to 
the roof of a house, so that people may walk or sit under it, 
the canvass or awning being thin, to admit of the light freely, 
the effect in the time of sunshine, from the brilliancy of the 
colours, is peculiarly gratifying. Where an awnina; is thus 
8 
