204 CALIFORNIA GARDEN FLOWERS 



heavy soils and need lifting after blooming, to be reset after the 

 ground becomes warmed in early spring. 



Tulips. One can make the tulip story very short, unless he goes 

 into the trials and tribulations of a generation of growers who made 

 such various and protracted efforts to get some satisfaction from the 

 old-style common or Dutch tulips. Some few have succeeded and 

 produced notable results by planting northward of fences or buildings 

 or under trees, so that only a fraction of low-power sunlight reaches 

 them. In this way they develop slowly and the bloom-stem is not 

 invited to shoot before root-force is accumulated to give it long dis- 

 tance. Even this policy does not avail where winter sunshine and 

 warm air heats even shaded soil surfaces. Probably no one gets better 

 Dutch tulips than Mr. Carl Purdy of Ukiah, and though he is a most 

 discerning grower, we have always had the conviction that a part of 

 his success was due to climatic conditions working with him in his 

 coast situation north of San Francisco. But of course these conditions 

 do not settle the question one way or the other. We, too, have worked 

 in the coast district but, through careless practice probably, have 

 always had these old Dutchmen sitting in the dirt like an egg in an egg 

 cup. For this reason we quite sympathize with many who believe 

 that the ordinary working amateur should drop all the old Dutch 

 classes which have made such a sensation in the world. This of course 

 does not mean to submerge all Holland, for Holland grows newer 

 classes also, and until we get to commercial bulb-growing on this 

 coast, as we should, we are greatly beholden to the Hollanders. 



All tulips, so far as we know them, require in this state some shade 

 against extra-hot spring days, for we often get, in the coast district, 

 March heat which is even higher than midsummer heat, and this dis-* 

 tresses tulips. All tulips also require lightness in the soil and all that 

 is said of the beneficence of sand, manure and fibre on pages 27 to 31 

 should be deeply written on your tulip-conscience. Cool cow-manure 

 is the delight of tulips and they should have it above their heads and 

 under their feet. Tillage and ample moisture, unless freely supplied by 

 the rains, are indispensable, as emphasized on pages 35 and 36. If one 

 will give heed to all these things, he can surely have gorgeous tulips, 

 stems knee to waist high, holding aloft great bells to ring joy deep 

 into your heart bells that will cause the meanness in your spirit to 

 exult a little as your neighbor declares that he could never get a tulip 

 good enough to put in a wine-glass, while yours seem to require an 

 umbrella-stand. 



This you can do by observing the cultural preparations cited and 

 by growing the classes of tulips which are later flowering than the old 

 Dutch and which are commonly called Darwins, Gesnerianas, Cottage 

 and May-flowering tulips the family entanglements of which we shall 



