CULTURE OF EBICAS. 129 



were such coarse unwieldy things, that I gave them to some flower- 

 growing cottagers, but never heard of their following the progeny of 

 Typlion again, and assuming their three-headed monster shape. I 

 would advise tiiat when these overgrowths happen, to let tlie bulb ripen 

 the seed pod, which will have a tendency to prevent it another season ; 

 another good plan is, when you see enough of the bloom bud, and find 

 there will be eight petals, to break oft' the bud about half way down 

 the stem, and the root will most likely break out into offsets, which in 

 a season or so, will make nice blooming bulbs. 



In a corner of your last respects, I see you ask — If you save seed, 

 liow long will it be before you may expect some broken flowers? 

 From a young and ardent beginner this is a very natural question, but 

 here allow me to remind you of the old saying, " Patience is a virtue." 

 You will need a little. " Rome was not built in a day." It will be 

 some years before the bulb will arrive at a blooming state, and then in 

 all probability it will come a plain colour, or what are termetl breeders, 

 and generally takes some years more before it breaks, or becomes what 

 are called here " rectified flowers." I have grown some of Clarke's 

 breeders ten years before they have broken ; I have been told by some 

 growers, that they have grown breeders twenty years before they have 

 got a broken flower ; I would advise that they be allowed to mature 

 their seed-pod every year, and that their position in the garden be 

 changed every year. As change of soil has a tendency to make them 

 strike out into colour, I think a good plan would be to plant them five 

 in a clump, in all parts of the borders of your garden, say four to eigiit 

 inches apart, and one in the middle thus — 

 the probable chance of a break is 10 to 1 this * * 



way, than if planted in a bed in one kind of soil ; 

 and if a fine strain should appear, it would be * 



easy to cover it from the weather. I think I 

 have now done with your questions, and time I * * 



liad. I hope they are all answered to your satis- 

 faction, if not, you must take the will for the deed. Allow me to say, 

 I wish you every success. I annex a list of Bizard Tulips that have 

 gained prizes during the last three years at the northern meetings. 



Yours truly, 

 Manchester. Dahl. 



P.S. — I have just been informed that there will be a meeting at some 

 public place in Manchester, in May next, (1850,) at which it is expected 

 will be exhibited a large quantity of new and good tulips from all parts 

 of the country ; I am looking forward to a treat ; if any are worth 

 remark, you shall hear from me again. 



CULTURE OF ERICAS. 



Many of our readers have seen the splendid specimens of Ericas exhi- 

 bited at tiie sliows held at Chiswick, Regent's Park, and Suirey Zoo- 

 logici^l Gardens, by Messrs. Fairbairn, of Clapham, near London. 



