Hardy and Half-hardy Plants 



of November; and, being well rooted at that period, the bulbs grow rapidly 

 with the heat and moisture, so that the first plants are in flower for the 

 Christmas markets, when a good trade in them is anticipated. For many 

 years the bulbs were brought to market in pots, but of late years about 

 two dozen plants in flower are packed into long narrow boxes in coconut 

 fibre and sent to market thus, realizing from 18s. to 24s. per dozen boxes. 

 The cost of forcing Tulips, apart from the price of the bulbs, is about 6s. to 

 8s. per 1000, so that profits vary according to the first cost of the bulbs, 

 market fluctuations, and the price of fuel in hard winters. 



For later work other varieties of Tulip are grown in the same way, 

 but they have larger blooms and longer stems, <v 



and find a good sale, although at times the 

 prices are so low as not to pay for the cost of 

 the bulbs. Amongst the best single -flowered 

 Tulips for market work are: Canary Bird and 

 Chri/solora, yellow; Duchess of Parma, orange 

 red, with a yellow border; Keizerskroon (fig. 

 251), rich scarlet, edged yellow; La Reine, the 

 very best white for forcing it comes pinkish 

 and crippled in a low temperature; Rose Gris 

 de Lin, bright rose; Thomas Moore, soft terra 

 cotta; Yellow Prince, rich yellow; Prince of 

 Austria, bright scarlet orange; Rosamundi 

 Huikman, rose and white. These are amongst 

 the most popular early-flowering Tulips that 

 are forced, but the following may also be worth 

 attention: Artus and Belle Alliance, both deep 

 scarlet, but rather dear; Cottage Maid (or La 

 Precieuse), pink, striped with white; Leonardo 

 da Vinci, fine orange; Mon Tresor, fine yellow; 

 Ophir d'Or, large yellow, &c. There are many 



other fine varieties of early Tulip, but the market grower leaves them to 

 the private gardener. 



Amongst the best double Tulips for market work are: Imperator 

 Rubrorum, bright scarlet; Murillo, delicate rose; Grand Vainqueur and 

 Rose Blanche, white; and the old Tournesol, red and yellow, which is one 

 of the oldest double Tulips grown for market. There are many other 

 varieties in catalogues, but the prices are either too high or they fail in 

 some respects from the grower's point of view so that they do not find 

 much favour. 



Where open ground and cold frames are available, Tulips have been 

 grown without heat of late years for market. They entail no expenditure 

 for coal or coke, or houseroom, and, following on the forced varieties, they 

 sometimes realize more remunerative prices. The self-coloured Darwin 

 Tulips are the best for this purpose. They should be planted as early as 

 possible in autumn about 6 in. deep and 6 in. apart, in rich and well- 



23 



Fig. 251. Tulipa Gesneriana, 

 var. Keizerskroon 



VOL. II. 



