116 THE FLORIST. 



locality of such place of meeting, under the care of the committee for the 

 time being. To this end an open invitation should be given to the fancy 

 that they one and all contribute such bulbs as from repute or fancy may 

 be considered in doubt as to their identity, and with such bulbs send a 

 list of the aliases which, to their knowledge, exists both at home and 

 abroad. In this manner, doubtless, a goodly muster of roots would be 

 gathered together, and a National bed formed, which season by season 

 would prove interesting and welcome to those exhibitors and friends who 

 attend the National exhibitions. The local committee might have the 

 full particulars printed for the use of those who inspected the flowers 

 thus collected, and an inventory or general entry book should be at 

 command wherein observations and notions could be registered, in the 

 end forming a ready means of correcting the present difficulties sur- 

 rounding the nomenclature of the Tulip. 



I see no practical difficulty in the way to the annual formation and 

 growth of a travelling National Tulip bed. What would such have 

 effected had its establishment commenced with the first National Tulip 

 meeting I Can we not boast of growers willing to entrust a few rows of 

 flowers to the care of the committee for the year ? Can there be any 

 scruple as to the safe custody and due return of such at taking up time ? 

 I already, in imagination, see a bed of five hundred rows, contributed 

 by at least one hundred fanciers, at the command of the first National 

 committee, who will invite such co-operation. Then with National 

 exhibitions let us have National beds. John Edwards. 



Wace Cottage, HoUoway. 



WALLS AND GLASS COVERINGS. 

 Although much has been said by various writers in the Florist, as 

 to the expediency or inexpediency of covering fruit walls with glass, I 

 do not think I shall weary its readers by describing a method of treat- 

 ment which, with the aid of a glazed frame, has brought Black Ham- 

 burgh Grapes to great perfection, on a common stone and mortar wall, 

 six feet and a half in height. This will suit very many amateur 

 gardeners who happen to have garden walls with a south aspect in the 

 suburbs of towns. 



Before entering upon the training of the Vines, I will first describe 

 my glass cases ; they are six feet in length inside measure ; one foot in 

 width, and three feet in height outside in front — the glazed sloping 

 roof which rises to the extent of six inches behind is supported in the 

 centre of the front by an upright prop one and a half inch by two inches ; 

 this holds together the top and bottom of the frame, and serves to secure 

 by an iron pin (which fits into a round hole in its middle), the two 

 sliding sashes which form the front of the frame — at its sides they are 

 secured by a hook and eye. Two panes on each side of the glazed 

 roof are necessarily used as ventilators, and are fastened for that pur- 

 pose to a hinged framework of zinc. A large stay-nail is driven into 

 the wall to support the frames at bottom, and two small ones higher up 

 the wall, to receive iron hasps, which are screwed to the sides of the 

 frames. 



