rated, give it repeated turnings over ; and lay it in a situation 
where it may be fully exposed to the weather, as long as occa- 
sion will permit. The longer time can he allowed in preparing 
it, the better will the compost prove. Where it is convenient to 
allow twelve months for its preparation, it will require to be 
turned over monthly ; if six months, once in a fortnight; and 
if a shorter time, as three months only, it will require to be 
turned over weekly. In such a short period as the latter, how- 
ever, there will be scarcely sufficient time for the greensward to 
rot; which will prove a material inconvenience, as it would oc- 
casion the decay of many roots planted therein: and conse- 
quently, must be all picked out, before the compost is applied 
to the beds. On no account be prevailed upon to sift the com- 
])ost ; which process is invariably injurious, by promoting decay 
in most roots. 
Long experience has fully demonstrated the great utility of 
hazle-loam earth in the culture of the superior bulbous-rooted 
and other flowers ; but the practice of later years has clearly 
proved that our mode of treatment will admit of great improve- 
ment, in numerous cases, by the addition of more soft and cool 
soils. In the present case, the loam which ought to be procui’- 
ed is that partaking of a sandy nature, and somewhat light; 
and thereby rendered more open and inadhesive, so as to admit 
of the fibres of the plants more readily and effectually making 
way therein, and to discharge all heavy falling rains, and prevent 
that standing wet so frequently injurious to roots during the 
cold seasons of autumn and winter : whereas that of a more 
close, binding and adhesive nature, inclining to clay, would by 
retaining such moisture, abundantly decay the roots. In pro- 
curing this loamy earth, it will be necessary to dig and take 
away all the turf or greensward therewith ; which on becoming 
rotten, will enrich the compost and make it light ; recollecting, 
that, in order to obtain only the best and richest part of the 
earth, you must dig no deeper than from eight to ten inches, or 
even less, to avoid an inferior soil. A further advantage attends 
the use of a loam of a sandy nature, that it will, in all stages of 
the business, work better than that which inclines to clay, espe- 
cially on its being, in the least degree, moist or wet; and with- 
out settling heavy in the beds, so as to bind about the roots of 
the plants : it wall also be at all times more open and loose/ to 
