302 RAISING TULIPS. 



to change it. About the middle, or towards the latter end of July, 

 the summer shoots of the plants above named begin to ripen ; at this 

 time the cuttings must be talcen. If taken earlier, they almost always 

 damp ; if delayed until the shoots become hard, the process of rooting 

 is extremely slow, if roots are ever protruded. The terminal shoots of 

 the brandies are generally rejected, as being too long and unmanage- 

 able ; the side shoots of about two inches in length are preferred. The 

 pots are prepared in the usual manner as for heath cuttings: that is, 

 they are nearly half-filled with drainage of broken pots, over which is 

 placed a small portion of the fibrous part of peat earth ; the remaining 

 part of the pot is half-filled with finely sifted peat, mixed with about 

 one-third of white sand ; and on the top, sand of finely pounded white 

 freestone, firmly pressed down ; tlie pot is then watered, the cuttings 

 are prepared and inserted about an inch into the sand. The ]iot is 

 watered a second time, to settle the sand about the cuttings. When 

 the leaves are dry, they are covered with a bell-glass, and placed in a 

 house with a temperature of from 60 to TO degrees. The after-manage- 

 ment of the cuttings is merely to keep them moist by watering round 

 the outside of the bell-glass, or by introducing the spout of a very small 

 watering-pan amongst the cuttings, so as not to wet their leaves, and 

 to shade them from tlie direct rays of the sun. The shade ought to be 

 placed over tliem about 9 in the morning, and removed by 4 in the 

 afternoon. In cloudy days no shade is necessary. I never found it 

 requisite, as in the case of more tender cuttings, to wipe the moisture 

 from the inside of the bell-glass, although I believe it might be bene- 

 ficial. 



The cuttings may be expected to strike in about three months or 

 more, according to the state of the wood at the time when they were 

 put in ; but tlie swelling of the terminal and axillary buds is a sure 

 index to the rooting of the plants. At tliis period they are removed 

 fronr the heat, and placed on a shelf in the greenhouse ; and at the same 

 time air is admitted, by placing a small piece of broken pot under the 

 edge of the bell-glass, afterwards removing it altogether. In the spring 

 of the following jear, when the plants siiow a disposition to grow, they 

 are transplanted into separate pots, and kept in a cold frame, rather 

 close than otiierwise, during the summer. Towards the close of the 

 season, or in tlie spring of another year, they are planted in the open 

 ground. 



RAISING TULIPS. 



BV AN EXTENSIVE AMATEUK CULTIVATOR. 



It is witli much pleasure I am able to state, that during the last two 

 years there has been a considerable advance in cultivating this unri- 

 valled' race of floral beauties. In order to ascertain this fact, I resolved 

 last spring to apply to the secretaries of all tiie principal societies in 

 five counties only, which should have tulips shown at their exhibitions, 

 to take a minute of the quantity of flowers which should be placed in 

 competition upon tlie tables. Upon receiving the returns, I find that 



