THE JFLOKAL WORLD AND GAEDEN GUIDE. 289 



THE CULTIVATION OF THE TULIP. 



S a border flower the tulip has but one fault — it ia short- 

 lived. Of its splendour and variety we need say 

 nothing — better is it we should make good use of what 

 little space we can afford to say and prove that there 

 is nothing in the catalogue of border flowers to equal 

 the tulip in cheapness, adaptability to a variety of circumstances, 

 hardiness, simplicity of management, and capability to make a liberal 

 return for every reasonable outlay. Once become possessed of a 

 variety worth growing, if the stock consists of but one bulb ; and. it 

 not only need not be lost, but will be sure to increase yearly with 

 the most trifling exercise of care and judgment on the part of the 

 cultivator. Any ordinary good soil will grow tulips well, but the 

 best possible soil for them is a well-drained, very rich and mellow 

 sandy loam. Partial shade they bear well ; indeed, it is the custom 

 to put an awning over a bed of named late tulips, both to prolong 

 the beauty of the flowers, preserve their true colours, and enhance 

 the enjoyment of inspection, for a good bed of tulips is an exhibition 

 in itself. For ordinary purposes, all the several classes and sorts 

 of tulips may be treated in the same manner, and they will all 

 flower superbly, and increase rapidly, and maintain their quality, 

 though the circumstances they are subject to may not be such as a 

 tulip-fancier would approve. Indeed, for the parterre and the 

 mixed border no one needs expensive kinds ; at the same time, 

 those who have first acquired some experience in the management 

 of the cheapest will be well prepared to plunge into the tulip fancy, 

 if so minded ; and they might do worse. 



The early tulips are the most useful for massing, because they 

 may be taken up in time to make the beds ready for geraniums and 

 other summer bedders. They should be planted in October, four 

 inches deep and six inches apart, and be taken up as soon as their 

 leaves begin to wither, at the end of May. It is not necessary to 

 wait until the leaves have quite died down ; if they are but half 

 deadj the bulbs may be lifted and laid aside, with a thin covering of 

 earth, for a week, to ripen for storing. The late, or exhibition 

 tulips, should be planted in November, and taken up in June, when 

 the leaves begin to die down. It is no easy matter to kill tulips. 

 "We remember sending a valuable collection to the other side of the 

 world, some twenty-five years ago. They were delayed in transit, 

 and our calculations were upset. The result was, that nearly a year 

 elapsed from the time they were taken up in England to the plant- 

 ing of the roots in the colony. Then when the boxes were opened, 

 it was found that the bulbs had shrivelled away to dust, but every one 

 had formed a cluster of tiny offsets to take its place, and from these 

 offsets our friend soon obtaiued stocksof the several varieties that were 

 Bent out to him. Some years ago, we were so much occupied with big 

 work, that the planting of our tulips was deferred and deferred, until 

 at last the 2nd of April arrived, and. they were found much shrivelled 

 and half-grown in their several drawers in the seed-rooms. On 

 Octjler. 19 



