ON THE CULTURE OF THE TULIP. 75 



described, will — I speak from the most certain results of experi- 

 ence mid adoption — be found highly beneficial in producing a fine 

 full green foliage, a strong upright stem, and a vigorous and per- 

 fect bloom. 



The Bed — Should be about 4 feet wide, of a length proportionate 

 to the quantity required to be planted, varying from 12 to 50 feet 

 in length, planting seven in a. row, the outer root to be about 3 

 inches from the edge. The box, as it is termed, to be composed 

 of strung wood, not less than one inch and a quarter thick, and 

 raised 10 or 12 inches from the surface of the ground, below which 

 the soil should be completely removed for at kast one foot, filling 

 up about one-half of the space so dug out with some rather large 

 cinder ashes, or clinkers, or brick rubbish, or any substance which 

 will not adhere closely, in order to admit of a good drainage under 

 the bed ; then over that fill up the remaining space upon a level 

 with the regular surface, or bottom edge of the boarding or box of 

 the bed, with a good dry, mellow loam which has been exposed 

 some months to the air ; and then proceed to fill the box with the 

 composition above described, it being first well mixed and united 

 together, to within about an inch of the edge on each side, and 

 raised gradually from each side towards the centre, so that the 

 middle row will be some inches higher in the ground than the 

 outside rows, although planted the same depth, being careful to 

 plant the largest and tallest growing roots in the centre, and the 

 next size in proportion in each of the other three rows, the small- 



, or shortest, being outside. Round my bed, when thus arranged, 

 I pat a neat, lightly constructed, open green fence, made of one- 

 foot single laths not too close together, and painted green, so that 

 ii stands just one foot high above the upper edge of the box of the. 

 bod, gives a neat, finished, and ornamental appearance to the bed, 

 ami forms a material protection to the growth and bloom of the 

 plant-. Where the Tulip stage is then erected over, and properly 



ered in the blooming season, the bed assumes a regular and 

 handsome appearance, and forms no inconsiderable scene of at- 

 traction. 



WtnUng. -The time to be selected fdr this purpose is from thi 

 latter end of Ociobei to about the 12th of November, choosing 

 during thai period th< most open, fry weather, as thai description 

 •■I (oil which i used for th< growth of thi Tulip cannot bedis 



