44 REMARKS ON AN ARTICI.K 



proper order in the compartments, according to height and colour. 

 " Its first series holds those whose stem is highest, and which are 

 planted on the top of the hed ; the other compartments hold others 

 less high, until all are rilled." In making the bed," I find it best to 

 give it a certain inclination, in order, first, to see the position of the 

 flowers more easily ; and next, to facilitate the flowing off of rain or 

 other moisture." From this description I infer it is meant that a 

 Tulip bed should be low in front and high at the back or farthest 

 side from the spectator, and that the tallest varieties should be 

 planted at the back or elevated side, and those of lower growth 

 planted in the near and lowest side of the bed. Now it must be ad- 

 mitted by all, that the beauty of a Tulip is seen by viewing the inside 

 of the corolla, and no arrangement seems worse adapted than this to 

 facilitate a close inspection, as the tallest flowers would be placed at 

 the greatest distance. Instead of forming the bed so that the super- 

 fluous rain may " flow off," it is better that it be never suffered to 

 " fall on," which must be prevented by covering the beds with hoops 

 and mats. 



As the arrangement of Tulips has not been minutely detailed in 

 any former article of your Magazine, I will (if you can allow me 

 space in your pages) attempt a brief description. 



The bed should be prepared to contain seven roots in each row 

 across the bed; it should therefore be 3 feet 10 inches in width, 

 and any convenient length ; and be surrounded with an edging of 

 board, on which the transverse rows should be numbered progressively. 

 Measure off five inches from each edge, and divide the remaining 

 space equally into six, which will allow G inches between each root, 

 and 5 inches from the outer rows to the margin board. The drawers 

 in which the bulbs are kept when out of ground should have seven 

 compartments from back to front, and each row be numbered to cor- 

 respond with the numbers on the edging of the bed, and also to agree 

 with the entry in the Tulip book. Each of the seven varieties making 

 a transverse row should also be numbered, and No. 1 should be 

 at the left hand corner of the bed, on the opposite side to the spec- 

 tator, and 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, counted downwards towards the person 

 viewing them. This remark would seem too obvious to need men- 

 tioning, if it were not known that florists, in all other matters appa- 

 rently intelligent, have adopted the very reverse course. The sorts 



