74 ON RAISING TULIPS FROM SEED. 



is generally too late for general exhibition, although it is a very 

 fine variety. I would therefore impregnate it with Bienfait In- 

 comparable, or La Mere Bruin Incomparable, in order to incor- 

 porate its good properties and also to endeavour to raise a sort 

 equally as good, but rather earlier. The roses also are in gene- 

 ral too high coloured, and here also he would endeavour to 

 raise a variety possessing the beautiful colour of a Dolittle. 

 Care must be taken, after impregnation, by either tying the 

 bloom up with cotton, or placing it within a net bag, so that bees 

 or flies may not injure your work. A careful attention to these 

 hints would materially increase our number of good stage flowers. 

 Tulips that have a tinge at the bottom of the cup, shoidd not on 

 any account whatever be seeded, as all Tulips raised from seed 

 partake more or less of the parent root. Maddock recommends 

 breeders as the most proper to seed from, and I agree with him 

 in some respects, as the length of time the bulb remains in the 

 ground after the tulips are got up in order to ripen the seed, is 

 apt to spoil one in a fine rectified condition, by causing it to come 

 what is termed dirty, that is, with too much colour. But it rare- 

 ly happens that you possess breeders of the fine varieties, and of 

 course you must in this case run all risks. To remedy this defect 

 of too much colour, I find that by taking them up the following- 

 year, when in bloom, and placing them in sand in a shady place, 

 has a great tendency to counteract this superabimdance of colour. 

 On Sowing. Much difference of opinion exists, as to the 

 proper season for sowing the seed. Some Florists sowing at the 

 same time they plant their bulbs, and others in April. I find by 

 experience the best time is in January. The method I adopt 

 is to fill Carnation pots with good rich soil, and plant my seeds, 

 (instead of sowing) edgways, and slightly covering it with soil, by 

 so doing the seed will better force its way through the soil, than 

 if sown promiscuously, as each seed will in all probability lie flat, 

 which renders it less likely to force itself through the soil. Hav- 

 ing thus disposed of my seed, I plunge the pot in a cold frame 

 until the latter end of April, when I again plunge them in the 

 open garden. I have also placed the pots in the open garden 

 after sowing the seed, but I have generally lost one half by the 

 frost and the wind by being unprotected ; I am of opinion if seed 

 is gathered and hung up in a warm room for a few days, and then 

 sown, a year will be gained by that means. The seed will be 

 ripe early in August, and if sown as directed above, no doubt 

 they will come up in three or four weeks. They will then have 



