FIVE MINUTES ADVICE TO A YOUNG TUMP-GROWER. 105 



teurs than this, and to remedy it I would have every party, previous 

 to receiving a prize, be compelled to take Bible oath that the speci- 

 mens were of his awn growth. Many will object to this, and say, to 

 do so would be casting a stigma on their honesty ; but the rule will 

 apply to all equally, and no man of honest intention will ever scruple 

 being put to the test. I would also recommend the enforcing of a 

 rule for the payment of all subscriptions previous to any party being 

 allowed to show ; this would obviate another great difficulty. There 

 are many other items that it would do well to amend, but which I 

 must, for the present, leave alone. I hope that what I have said will 

 be received in the same spirit in which it is given, and that any other 

 reader of the Floricultural Cabinet who can suggest other reme- 

 dies calculated to promote the object in view will favour us with a 

 detail of them. 



ARTICLE V. 



FIVE MINUTES ADVICE TO A YOUNG TULIP-GROWER. 



BY UK. JOUN SLATER, FLORIST, PEACOCK IiOl'SE, CII ArEL- LANE, CUEETHAM-UILI., 



NEAR MANCHESTER. 



As May is the month when Tulips are in perfection, I presume it 

 will not be out of place to give a few words of advice to the young 

 amateur. 



If breeder Tulips (that is, those which are raised from seed and 

 bloom a self colour) are your taste, let me persuade you to go early in 

 the season to make your selection. Do not defer it until the bloom 

 is general; if you do, the probability is you will have many creamy- 

 bottomed oaes. If a Byblomen or Rose breeder is creamy at opening, 

 it will take'some days to bleach the bottom; and in many the petals 

 are at the point of falling when they are in a fit state for the stage, 

 and most likely the creamy tinge is not quite out. Select only those 

 which have pure bottoms, for this reason — the bloom will be ready 

 for the stage in a day or two after opening, and this is on many ac- 

 counts very desirable, especially if an exhibition is fixed for an early 

 day. There are many creamy-bottomed Tulips in consequence of 

 Roi de Siam having been an especial favourite in the south, and 

 having also been so frequently and highly recommended to raise seed- 

 lings from. A considerable number of Clark's breeders possess this 

 fault. 



