May.] FLOWER-GARDEN. 395 
ing, should, where intended, be taken up, as soon as their leaves 
decay. 
This ought to be constantly practised, with such as have stood un- 
removed two or three years; in order to separate the offsets, and 
to select the best roots for new planting; for without this care the 
bulbs would become numerous, and so small as to render the flow- 
ers very insignificant. The offsets when separated, may be imme- 
diately planted in beds or prepared borders, to increase the stock 
and enlarge their size; or they may be kept up, as well as the largest 
of the roots, till found convenient to plant them. 
All these kinds when taken up, should be placed in the shade to 
dry, and when sufficiently so, preserved in dry sand or saw dust, 
£cc. till the time of planting; which, for these, should not be delayed 
later than October, nor even till then if not taken good care of, as 
they do not keep well out of ground, especially if exposed long to 
the air. 
•Autumn Flowering Bulbs. 
The autumnal Crocuses, Amaryllises, and Colchicums, should 
be taken up as soon as their leaves decay, the offsets separated and 
all replanted again before the end of July: they are by no means to 
be kept longer out of the ground, as that would prevent their flow- 
ering in due perfection in autumn, which is their proper season. 
Care of Seedling Bulbs. 
The boxes of seedling tulips, hyacinths, narcissuses, and other 
bulbous kinds, arising from the seeds sown last autumn, should be 
now placed in the shade, carefully preserved from the mid-day sun, 
and the plants refreshed now and then with a little water: a small 
portion of loose earth sifted over them, would be of great benefit. 
^Auriculas and Polyanthuses. 
The first week of this month, or immediately after your fine auri? 
culas and polyanthuses have done flowering, is a very proper time 
to re-pot and slip them, as directed in the Flower-Garden for last 
month; after which, they must be treated during the summer and 
autumn, as there advised. See pages 347 and 349. 
Carnations. 
The fine carnations in pots, should now have due care and good 
attendance, they should be watered according to their necessities, 
and as their flower stems advance, small neat sticks, for their sup- 
port, should be placed one in each pot, to which they are to be tied; 
these ought to be at least three feet long, tapering a little from the 
bottom to top and painted green; they should be substantial and 
str^ght, and their lower ends are to be forced into the earth in the 
centre of each pot, sufficiently deep and firm, not to be shsjken loose 
