Tuberose Tulip 



TUBEROSE 



Polianthes tuberosa 



THIS bulb is extensively grown in the South of France for the deli- 

 cious perfume obtainable from its numerous pure white flowers. In this 

 country it is widely known, but considering the beauty and exceeding 

 fragrance of the blossoms it is astonishing that a greater number are 

 not planted every season. Perhaps the fact that the bulbs are valueless 

 after the first year may in a measure account for the comparatively 

 limited culture. They are easily flowered as pot plants in a mixture 

 of loam and leaf-mould, plunged in a bottom heat ranging between 

 60 and 70. The growth is rather tall, and unless kept near the 

 glass the stems become unsightly in length. 



TULIP 



WHEN grown in pots, Tulips are treated in precisely the same manner 

 as the Hyacinth, but several bulbs, according to their size and the 

 purpose they are intended for, are placed in a pot. When required 

 to fill epergnes and baskets, and other elegant receptacles, it is a good 

 plan to grow them in shallow boxes, as recommended for Crocuses, 

 and transfer them when in flower to the vases and baskets. This 

 mode of procedure insures exactitude of height and colouring, 

 whereas, when the bulbs are grown from the first in the ornamental, 

 vessels, they may not flower with sufficient uniformity to produce a 

 satisfactory display. In common with the Hyacinth and Crocus, 

 Tulips may be taken out of the soil in which they have been grown, 

 and after washing the roots clean, they can be inserted in glasses for 

 decorating an apartment. As the early Tulips are extremely cheap, 

 they are often employed in this way to light up festive gatherings at 

 Christmas and the early months of the year. The early and medium 

 varieties are admirably adapted for pot culture, but late Tulips are not 

 worth growing in pots because of their lateness ; otherwise, indeed, 

 they are extremely beautiful, and the florists' varieties are highly 

 valued as exhibition flowers. 



For general usefulness the early Tulips are the most valuable of 

 all, because of their peculiarly accommodating nature, their many 

 and brilliant colours, and their suitability for the formation of rich 

 masses in the flower garden. Any good soil will suit them, and they 



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