CHAP. Till.] TULIP. 233 



same bed should be filled with fresh soil every 

 season; as the tulips will soon exhaust the 

 ground, and they will degenerate if the soil be 

 not renewed. The proper distance at which the 

 tulips should be planted in the bed is seven 

 inches apart every way ; and their colours and 

 kinds may be arranged according to the fancy 

 of the planter. It is customary, w r here the tulips 

 differ a good deal in height, to place the tallest 

 in the middle, and the lower ones on the sides ; 

 and, when this is the case, the centre of the 

 surface of the bed need not be raised. The bed 

 is protected by hoops and mats, which are con- 

 trived to open to admit light, air, and rain at 

 pleasure. When the plants are near flowering, 

 a path is made round the bed; and over the 

 whole is stretched a canvas covering, supported 

 on a wooden frame, and so contrived as to open 

 at the sides or the top, as may be required. The 

 bulbs are planted about two or three inches 

 deep, and are never watered, except occasionally 

 by admitting a gentle rain, till they are in flower. 

 When they have done flowering, the leaves are 

 suffered to remain till they begin to turn brow T n, 

 when the bulbs are taken up, and laid with the 

 lower part upwards on shelves to dry. When 

 this is the case, the dry leaves and the fibrous 

 roots are pulled or rubbed off; and the bulbs 

 are put into drawers or boxes, divided into com- 

 partments so as to keep the named sorts apart, 

 till the season arrives for replanting;, which 

 is the last week of October or the first of 

 November. 



Mr. Groom of Clapham is the principal tulip- 

 grower in the neighbourhood of London, and he 



