80 THE FLORIST. 



well mixed together ; then get something fiat, and press the soil level, 

 and if you have only a few seeds to sow, then plant them edgeway, 

 the narrow end, at which is situated the germ, being downwards ; 

 cover with about half an inch of soil, then place the pot in a cold 

 frame, water when wanted, and if the soil gets caked or hardened at 

 the top, get a skewer and carefully loosen it ; in about six weeks the 

 young plants will make their appearance. The young plant makes 

 little progress for some weeks, excepting upwards, and then it throws 

 out a small fibre, in the same manner, and something similar, to the 

 potato, which increases in size until it is fully ripe, which will be 

 in July. The seedling Tulip makes not the smallest fibre the first 

 year, but wholly derives all nourishment and support from the foli- 

 age. The second year, as they make fibres the same as offsets, I 

 plant them in the offset bed, and destroy the increase which they 

 make every year until they are four years old, when, on account of 

 their being planted farther apart, the increase can be carefully kept 

 with the parent bulb. 



Having thus minutely described the manner of raising seedling 

 Tulips, I propose, in a future Number, to give directions respecting 

 the selection of such as are worth retaining. 



PLANTING STANDARD ROSES. 



By the time I became settled in life, I had succeeded in propagating 

 a large stock of Roses, embracing upwards of one hundred varieties. 

 With these I have decorated my house and lawns, not only to my 

 own gratification, but, whilst they are in bloom, to the admiration 

 of visitors and passers-by. I am convinced that parents cannot do 

 better than supply their growing-up families with such works as 

 The Florist, and also to encourage them in growing any class of 

 flowers for which they may have a partiality. I persevered in grow- 

 ing the Rose amidst many discouragements ; in fact, my straight 

 sticks for stocks were the butt of all my friends and neighbours ; 

 but as soon as they began to put on their rosy heads, one of those 

 w r ho made the most sport planted some stocks himself. 



It is my opinion that " the trade" would do well to assist and 

 encourage young amateurs in their endeavours to cultivate and pro- 

 pagate the different florists' flowers, as I believe an amateur who 

 could successfully propagate as well as grow flowers would be in- 

 clined to purchase to a larger extent than an unsuccessful cultivator; 

 at least, it is the case with myself, for ever since I have cultivated 

 the Rose satisfactorily, I have spent more pounds than I should 

 shillings in flowers had I been less successful. In regard to the 

 varieties of Roses to be grown, the various characteristics of the 

 different divisions or families, and the varieties in each family, I 

 cannot do better than refer the amateur to the Rose Amateur* 's Guide, 

 by Rivers, or Paul's Rose Garden, as a larger work, in conjunc- 



