252 ON THE CULTURE OF TULIPS, 



conveniency of shading in bloom. In wet situations it should be 

 raised two feet above the level of the soil of the garden. Mark it 

 out four feet wide, and as long as is wanted ; trench it up two 

 spades deep in the beginning of October ; bank up the sides and 

 ends with turf to the height of one foot in dry, and not less than 

 two feet in wet situations ; turf is preferable to boards hi this pur- 

 pose, the latter being too dry in spring for the outside rows. Put 

 all round the bed a bordering of slips of deal two inches wide, 

 taking care that it is level on all parts, as must also be the bed 

 itself. Place some hoops over the bed, and defend it from rains, 

 moving the surface with the spade every dry day, in order to get 

 the mould so dry by the beginning of November, that the holes 

 made for planting the Tulips in will only just support themselves 

 from falling in ; for the Tulips, if put into wet mould in their dry 

 state, would very likely rot from the sudden change. 



As to the soil for Tulips, every grower has his peculiar compost. 

 In my opinion, a healthy loam, rather heavy, is best suited to the 

 purpose ; but in no case should there be any sort of dung, for I 

 find that it always makes my flowers run. 



Before planting, make a plan of the drawer, and mix the roots 

 as before suggested ; then each being numbered, number them on 

 the plan as they stand in the drawer. 



The time of planting is the first fair weather in November. 

 Rake the bed smooth, rather rounding in the middle. If too 

 dry — viz. if the holes, when made, fall in — water with a fine rose, 

 and then stay an hour or two ; but if not, strain the line just down 

 the middle of the bed, and mark it with a pointed stick ; three 

 lines are then to be drawn and marked on each side of the middle 

 one, at six inches' distance from it and each other, which will leave 

 seven rows, the two outermost six inches from the outsides; now 

 bore seven holes across the bed (having a line strained) with a 

 painted dibber six inches long, or so made that it will go no deeper; 

 put into each of these holes a table-spoonful of sand, then plant 

 the first row of seven Tulips as they stand across the drawer, put 

 over each of these roots another table-spoonful of sand, and pro- 

 ceed with another row at six inches' distance, till all are planted ; 

 then fill the holes rather over the brim with some earth like the 

 bed ; replace the hoops, over which spread a net to keep out cats, 

 and defend the bed from all rains for three weeks or a month. 



