1869.] ON PROTECTING AND SEEDING TULIPS. G7 



wide, and deep borders, which have been cropped with vegetables, &c, grow on to 

 be large trees so as to cover a wall 12 ft. high, and yet they have completely died 

 to the ground in the space of three years. I have seen some of the same sorts 

 planted where they have only had about a three-feet border, some not even that, 

 and where there has been a continual traffic over the roots, so that the surface 

 has become almost as hard as a flagstone ; and yet not only have these trees 

 grown freely, not dying off by wholesale like the others, but they have produced 

 fruit in the proportion of six to one, compared with the trees planted where the 

 borders have been surface-cropped. Nor has the fruit in these cases been small 

 in size and poor in quality, but, on the contrary, large and luscious, and all that 

 one could expect or desire from an open wall. 



Heigham. J. S. Kent. 



ON PROTECTING AND SEEDING TULIPS. 



fHE season being now somewhat advanced, I propose to refer to my mode of 

 protecting the beds, and to the treatment of the plants up to the time of 

 f their coming into bloom. The present autumn and winter has been rather 

 an unusual one. The great quantity of rain, together with a continuation 

 of south-west winds, and so little frost, has caused vegetation to go on at a rapid 

 rate, more particularly in bulbous roots. My own Tulips, as well as others, so 

 far as I have seen and heard, are at this time (February 1G) farther advanced 

 in growth than our older growers have usually seen them by the third week in 

 March. In consequence of this, I am led to believe that those who wish to 

 secure their bulbs, and to excel in their bloom, require to exercise more than 

 ordinary caution and care. Those who have had the opportunity of keeping off 

 the heavy rains, and preventing their beds from becoming saturated with wet, will 

 find they are best off, for their plants will be later in coming up, and much 

 hardier than those in beds which have had to endure all the soaking rains which 

 have fallen from planting time to the present. The bulbs and grass of such as are 

 above ground are at this time four-fifths water, and if the wind should suddenly 

 turn to the north or north-east, we may expect and yet experience some severe 

 frosty nights and cold days. Be this as it may, it is better to be on our guard, 

 for, depend upon it, a single night's severe frost will not only destroy the fine 

 grass or herbage, with the buds and blooms, but it will greatly injure, if not also 

 destroy, the bulbs. So long as the wind continues in the south-west quarter, all 

 may be well. Although I advocate protection for Tulip beds, I also advise, as well 

 as practise, giving the beds, from the time of planting up to the time of blooming, 

 the full benefit of all fine seasonable weather. Like most other flowers, Tulips 

 are the better for all the sun and air which it is possible to give them ; but the 

 more we can cover and protect against soaking rains and that most destructive 

 enemy, frost, the better for the colour and fine style and perfection of marking 

 of the flowers, besides which, we may expect sound, healthy bulbs at lifting time. 



