TULIPS. 



523 



TULIPS. 



liarity, that of twenty of a sort in the 

 same bed, scarcely two may come up alike, 

 although gocd judges can recognise them. 

 These peculiarities interfere with their 

 cultivation, though it is possible that some 



TULIPA GESNERIANA DOUBLE VARIETY. 



may regard them as being among the 

 charms of tulip-cultivation. 



Soil. The perfection of soil for tulip- 

 culture would be three inches of the top of 

 a rich loamy pasture, the turf of which, 

 cleared of wireworm, grub, and insect, has 

 lain by till thoroughly rotted, and which 

 has been repeatedly turned and picked: 

 the decayed vegetable matter will suffice 

 without other dressing. 



Preparation of Bed, The tulip bed 

 should run north and south, with drainage 

 perfect, but without stones or rubbish at 

 the bottom. The bed may be dug out 4 

 feet wide and 2 feet 6 inches deep, and the 

 compost previously prepared filled in till it 

 is a few inches above the path, the centre 

 being 2 inches higher than the sides. 

 All water must be withdrawn from the 

 bottom of the bed : it is not enough to give 

 drainage, unless an outlet is found, so as to 

 avoid stagnant water. A few days should 

 be given for the bed to settle, rake all 



smooth, leaving the bed 3 inches above 

 the path. 



Time for Planting. The best time for 

 planting is the last fortnight in October, or 

 early in November. 



Planting. When the bed is perfectly 

 ready to receive them, the bulbs are placed 

 in seven rows across the bed, and 6 inches 

 apart in the rows. They are pressed in a 

 little ; soil is then placed upon them, 3 

 inches above the crown of the bulbs, so 

 that the bed being raised in- the centre, the 

 middle row will be covered 4 or 5 inches. 

 The bulbs are planted, of course, according 

 to their height and colour those growing 

 15 or 1 8 inches occupying the outside rows ; 

 the second rows on each side are those 

 growing 2 feet, and those growing 2 feet 6 

 inches occupy the three centre rows. When 

 planted and covered, they may be left until 

 the leaf-buds begin to peep through the 

 ground. Of course the sides of the bed 

 must be protected by edgings either of wood 

 or tiles. 



Protection against Frost, &f. As frost 

 approaches, while giving as much air as 

 possible, they should be protected against 



PARROT TULIP. 



it by mats or other shelter, but not longer 

 than is necessary; otherwise they get 



