Oct.] flower-garden. 539 
canvas on such emergencies; hut it will not be necessary to defend 
it from moderate rains or slight frosts: for too frequent and long 
covering will deprive the roots of the due action and influence of 
the air, which ought to be avoided as much as possible: it were 
even better not to cover at all, than over do it to the certain detri- 
ment of the plants. 
Having procured roots of the finest sorts, and pursuing the pre- 
ceding instructions, you may depend on having those incomparable 
flowers in the greatest perfection possible. 
The common kinds of tulips, being of little value, may be planted 
in small patches of three, four, or five roots together, around the 
borders of the garden, or pleasure ground, and covered the same 
depth as the others. 
Planting the best Hyacinth Roots. 
The roots of hyacinths may be planted, with good expectation of 
success, at any time from the beginning of this month, to the 
middle of November; but I would prefer the middle of the 
present month, as being the best period in which these roots 
can be planted; for about that time they will show a natural 
inclination to vegetate, manifested by a swelling of the circle from 
whence the fibres proceed, which will be soon followed by an ac- 
tual appearance of their points, together with that of the foliage at 
the other extremity of the root, in the form of a small cone of a 
greenish colour. 
The bed on which the finest sorts are to be planted should be 
situated in rather a dry and airy part of the garden; a southern as- 
pect is to be preferred, sheltered on the north and north-west by 
walls, trees, or buildings, at a distance from it proportionate to their 
elevation; that is, the distance of the bed from either, should be 
equal to the height of the wall, fence, or hedge, &c. 
When the situation is determined on, the dimensions of the bed 
should be marked out, and the soil entirely taken away, to the depth 
of at least two feet; the earth in the bottom should then be dug and 
well pulverized, for about nine inches deep, and the space above 
filled with the following compost. 
One third sea, or river sand. One third fresh, sound earth. One 
fourth rotten cow dung at least two years old; and one twelfth of 
earth of decayed leaves. 
The fresh sound earth of the compost, should be of the best 
quality that the garden or adjacent country affords, and entirely 
free from noxious vermin of every description. These ingredients 
should be well mixed and incorporated a considerable time before 
wanted, and about ten days previous to planting, the bed should be 
filled up with the compost, to about three inches above the level of 
the path on the south or front side, and seven aiches on the north 
side, so as to form a regular slope, or inclination towards the 
sun. 
On planting the roots the surface of the bed should be covered 
with fresh sandy earth about one inch thick raked perfectly smooth 
