TULIPS AND WATSONIAS 205 



not try to explain, but these are the ones for the amateur to grow. 

 Other conditions of success are to plant early, usually in October or 

 November, when the ground is right, setting the bulbs about four 

 inches apart in the row, with hoeing space between the rows, unless 

 you are trying to get all that you can from a small space or general 

 effect from massing, and then the bulbs can be set four inches apart 

 each way. To see just what you are doing and to give greater mellow- 

 ness to the soil, it is a good plan to throw out all the dirt to a depth 

 of about seven inches, spread a little well rotted manure; put a thin 

 layer of sand or light soil over it; set the bulbs in this and cover lightly 

 so as to place about three inches of soil over the top of the bulb, and 

 then spread a mulch of light manure so that the heavy rains shall not 

 compact the surface. If this is done one will surely get grand tulips 

 of kinds which enjoy being in California. Much work is being done 

 by propagators of these good tulips and improved varieties are almost 

 annually appearing; therefore the florists' announcements must be 

 carefully studied and one must always watch the results of those 

 whose tulips show that they grow them aright. 



Watsonias. Watsonias make tall foliage and shoot long bloom 

 stems, thus having something of the aspect of the gladiolus, with 

 which they are somewhat allied. They have a more continuous bloom- 

 ing season, from spring until autumn, and the flowers are very showy. 

 They enjoy much sunshine and are very popular in Southern Cali- 

 fornia. They need early planting, say in September, on properly 

 moistened ground, for the roots do not enjoy being out of the ground, 

 and they may be allowed to enjoy it for several years as daffodils are, 

 replanting when they crowd each other. If planted early they will 

 lead the spring bloomers and be in at Easter in warm-winter places. 

 It was of one variety of Watsonia that someone said: "It is the 

 whitest flower that grows." 



