410 On the Cultivation of the Tulip. 



and a half feet deep; wheel the soil thrown out, to the other 

 end of the bed, in order to finish off with. The manure 

 should now be laid at the bottom at the depth proposed; mark 

 off again four feet in length, and place the top spit immedi- 

 ately on the manure, continuing so to do, until you have a 

 similar trench at the other end ; this will completely change 

 the compost every year, by bringing the under soil to the 

 surface, which is of great importance — level off with the soil 

 which was wheeled to the opposite end of the bed from 

 where the trenching was begun. 



But to return to the planting of the bulbs the first year. 

 I shall suppose the bed or beds are already filled up with the 

 compost a little above the level of the ground ; allowing it 

 to settle to the original level: this ought to be done the first 

 week in November ; the second week, have the surface of 

 the bed raked perfectly smooth and even; then stretch a line 

 tight and straight the whole length of the bed six inches 

 from the front side, and with a small piece of stick mark off 

 close to the line; remove the line again six inches, and mark 

 off, and so go on, until you have six straight lines the length 

 of the bed; this will leave six inches clear, both at the front 

 and back ; then mark off across the bed, six inches apart ; 

 this will leave the whole of the bed in six inch squares. At 

 the angle of each square, or where the lines are crossed, 

 place a handful of sand. If the day is fine, go to work and 

 plant the bulbs immediately, for there is no trusting to the 

 weather, at this season of the year. Place a bulb in the 

 cen/re of each handful of sand that was put therefor this 

 purpose. When the bed is planted, cover them with a com- 

 post similar to that they are to grow in, three inches deep; 

 observe to mulch the beds over with leaves or litter, about 

 six or eight inches, before the approach of severe frosts ; it is 

 also indispensably necessary to have a light frame built over 

 the bed, for the purpose of fixing upon it a light canvass, or 

 strong cotton cloth, to shade the flowers from sudden storms 

 of wind, rain, early frost, and particularly the hot sun. In 

 the spring of the year, some tulip growers make use of hoops 

 bent over the beds at regular distances, and throw over bass 

 mats; but a permanent /rome would be but a trifling expense, 

 and is much to be preferred. As to the size of the frame, 

 every one can suit their own taste in the dimensions of it ; 

 all that is necessary is, to secure the plants and flowers from 

 the before mentioned casualties. Take off the covering of 

 leaves, &c., in the spring, as soon as the plants begin to make 

 their appearance, and with a trowel or small fork, stir up the 

 soil a little between each row, and leave the whole smooth 

 and neat ; now begin to make a quantity of small neat stakes, 

 about two and a half feet in length, for securing the flower 



