8 ON THE CULTURE OF THE TULIP. 



according to the length of the bed,) and about 20 inches high, 

 outside measurement. These frames should either be made to 

 overlap each other one inch at the joints, or to fit closely together; 

 they should stand upon the bordering, and at every joint there 

 should be a post 2i inches wide let down just within the border- 

 ing. The frames should have a mortice to receive a staple from 

 the post, which of course need only have one staple if the frames 

 overlap, but two if they only meet ; and the staple should stand 

 just far enough out from the frame, to admit a small peg. The 

 end frames should be only 4 feet long, according to the width of 

 the bed, and should have each four staples, two at each end ; and 

 the side frame, which meets this at the corner, should have two 

 mortices, to receive the staples. There need only be at the four 

 corners a small post about 8 inches high, just put to steady the 

 corners, and it need have no staple. The frames should all be 

 marked with numbers, and the posts also, that each may be in the 

 same place next year. The frames, with the wire-work, will want 

 one coat of paint every year, and copper wire will be found cheap- 

 est in the end. On this fence the hoops, with their net, are to 

 stand. 



As soon as the Tulips begin to separate their leaves, any water 

 lodged in their leaves should be drawn out with a water-squirt, if 

 there is any appearance of frost. This should be carefully attended 

 to as they advance in height, and when about 4 inches high, they 

 should be carefully protected from frost by covering them over at 

 night with mats or canvass, to be removed early in the morning, 

 to avoid drawing. If these two points are not attended to, the 

 bloom will be much injured. The spring of 1834 gave abundant 

 proof of this. Continue the protection from frost as the flower- 

 stems advance, and as soon as any begin to shew colour, erect the 

 tent called the Tulip-house. This should be at least 10 feet wide, 

 to include a walk (which should be turfed) 3 feet wide all round 

 the bed, the length according to the bed. Provide some sticks li 

 feet high, painted green, each with a wire hook standing out from 

 it about 3 or 4 inches, to support any flower-stem which may not 

 be able to support itself. Admit all the air you can, and when the 

 flowers begin to open, exclude all sun ; if the bed lie east and west, 

 half the covering can be always rolled up, except in rain or high 

 winds j shut up at night. In hot weather, it will prolong the 



