1’HE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN'S COMPANION.— October 21, I860. 
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them as the ground is dug, in rows a foot apart, and 
about the same distance from each other in the row will 
generally produce the best crop ; but the bulbs may he 
closer in the row if they are small, as they are not likely 
to increase so extensively. Use plenty ofleal’-mould, with 
a little sand around each bulb, and the latter not buried 
deeper than just to hide the crown; for, though the 
plant is from the warm and sunny East, it is tolerably 
hardy, and sutlers more from the lack of sunshine in our 
summers than from the frost of our winters. Never¬ 
theless, it is prudent not to plant it on wet, cold- 
bottomed ground ; for with that and a dull summer 
the crop will bo a failure. 
Another mode, which 1 once tried with success, was to 
plant the bulbs in November in rows eighteen inches 
apart, and about six inches from each other in the row. 
These rows were placed on the top of ridges something 
like Turnip ridges; the bulb being merely covered, the 
earth was, iti a great measure, washed away from them 
during the winter and spring, so that by May the tufts 
of newly-formed bulbs were clear above tbe soil. Not¬ 
withstanding, they grew on rapidly, and the crop was an 
excellent oue, the roots being more Onion-shaped than 
usual, i. e., they were flat instead of long; but they 
ripened early and well. 
Hoeing and Earth-stirring. —Like everything else, 
these plants benefit much by the ground being often 
stirred amongst them, which cannot be too often done 
in dry weather until the tops hang over and occupy the 
whole ground, so that it cannot any longer be done with¬ 
out injury to them. In winter this may be done once 
with a small three-pronged fork or digging spud; but 
in spring and early summer the hoe will be a more 
expeditious tool. 
Gathering the Crop. —The time for this will be 
easily seen by the decaying foliage and the ripened ! 
appearance of tbe bulbs, which also become loose, and 
easily part from tbe fibrous roots. When ripe by the 
end of June, let them be gathered, and spread out 
in the full sun to harden before storing away, which 
need not be done for some time, as the outer coating of 
the bulb is so carefully fitted on, that but little if any 
waste of its juices takes place, even in tbe scorching , 
sunshine of Midsummer. This beautiful provision of 
nature seems to be accorded to all tbe bulb tribe, most 
of which are exposed near the surface at that time in a 
torpid, but not wasting state. The bulbs, having lain a 
fortnight or three weeks to ripen and harden, may then 
be carried to some dry place, equally free from damp 
and fire heat, and then spread on open shelves, or hung j 
up in small nets. A little of the neck or loose part may 
be pulled off before doing so ; but if the bulbs be well- 
grown there will be little left to remove, and in no case 
use force to remove it. It is proper here to observe, 
that an open, light, airy place is necessary to keep them, 
as they seem sensible of that; and, above all things, keep 
them from damp. They will often require looking over, 
aud any appearance of decay at once removed. 
Bulbs Reserved for Planting. —When very large 
ones are wanting, select a few of the smallest offset bulbs, 
which, on being planted, only increase in size, not in 
numbers; but it is better to plaut some of all sizes, as 
there is no fixed rule as to the future progeny. The 
finest bulbs are often and very properly taken for use; 
but I would not by any means advise planting very 
inferior ones, as it rarely happens they turn out well. 
It is also right to mention here, that aflor they have 
been grown two years or more at one place, it is better 
to change, and have others from a distance, or from 
soil of a different description; and I believe we should 
be more successful, in a general way, if we had our 
seed-bulbs from the Continent every year, the same as we 
have Hyacinths and other flowering roots, for tlioro is a 
much greater analogy than is generally supposed ; but 
much good may bo effected by a frequent exchange of 
bulbs for planting, and by allowing them a good, rich 
border, similar to what a fancy Tulip grower of yore used 
to pride himself in. This hitherto half-neglected plant 
may become a more general favourite when its merits 
and cultivation are both better known. 
Concluding Remarks. —Tbe past season lias not 
been a good oue for tbe Shallot. Tbe want of sunshine 
in May could not be compensated by the bright days 
of July, the plant having ceased to grow long before 
tho latter period. It is, therefore, proper to observe, that 
this plant is more the creature of the season than of 
cultivation; for, without a good proportion of sun in tho 
months of April, May, and June, the crop is seldom good. 
Nevertheless, tbe means necessary to increase the quality 
of the crop ought to be adopted every year, and, in most 
oases, nature will do lior part likewise; aud what diseases 
the plant is liable to, as the foot-rot, premature decay, 
&c., are more likely due to the absence of that vigorous 
growth, which, in most cases, keeps away all misfortunes, 
and the remedy for them lies in supplying the plant 
with the means to do well; the season will do all the 
rest. J. Robson. 
CRYSTAL PALACE.— September 11th. 
(Continued from page 22.) 
The second mode adopted in these quadrants is to 
make the vase, &c., with its massive pedestal, the centre 
of a ring-bed of flowers. There is not room to do tbe 
same on the opposite side of the walk. That is one 
objection ; but if there were, the mere uniformity would 
not reconcile us to its adoption. I was surprised last 
year to read our good friend Mr. Beaton’s eloquent 
description of these ring-beds as a grand improvement new 
to thousands, recommending them for flag-staffs, sun¬ 
dials, and vases and statues set upon pedestals. Were 
it only for tbe sake of economy alone, and as being 
patronised at the Crystal Palace, there can be no longer 
any doubt of the fasliionability of it. (See number for 
May 1st, 1855.) Now, tastes vary so much, that then, 
aud especially now after having seen them, instead of 
any desirable advance, I look upon such ring-beds as a 
muddling retrogression—a mere make-believe—a hud¬ 
dling together of perfectly distinct forms of beauty, aud 
a setting adrift all recognised ideas of tbe fitness of 
using certain means for certain objects. I fear, however, 
that the example of the Palace, the fasliionability of 
the thing, and the authority of our friend in matters of 
taste, will be for some time too much for me, aud that, 
as there have been imitations, so they will continue to be 
made. As there may be some who will have these ring- 
beds, and may not be able to refer to the number speci¬ 
fied, it is only right that 1. should give our friend’s ex¬ 
cellent rule for guidance in such circumstances, which is 
shortly this:—Given the diameter of tho pedestal—be 
it square or round, place around it a circle of turf of 
half that width, and then another ring of the same 
width as the pedestal for the reception of the plants. 
Thus, if the diameter of the pedestal be four feot, the 
ring of grass would be two feet, making a diameter of 
eight feet, and tbe ring of flowers would be four feet, 
making the diameter of tho circle altogether sixteen 
feet, which, I presume, is about tho size of the Scarlet 
Geranium ring-beds on tbe quadrants referred to. Tbe 
only other rule that our friend would seem to imply is, 
that the flowers should not be so high as to interfere 
with tho vase or statue on tho top of the pedestal; and 
I may add, that were I making these ring-beds, 1 would 
follow these directions to the letter. It is not to tho 
mode ol carrying out, but to tbe whole system that 1 
object, aud for these among other reasons:— 
1. Tho economy in materials is over rated. We are 
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