TULIPS. 



525 TURF, LAYING ON LAWNS. 



have cultivated the varieties of early single 

 tulips systematically can form any just idea 

 of their beauty, either as regards the shape 

 of the flowers, the brilliancy and variety of 

 their colours, or their general value for 

 decorative purposes. 



Tulips in Pots. For winter and spring 

 decoration under glass the tulip may be 

 placed next to the hyacinth. The single 

 and double dwarf Due van Thol tulips are 

 for this purpose most valuable. There are 

 also several large flowering double tulips, 

 which produce a brilliant display. The 

 former may be planted, six or eight bulbs 

 in a good -sized pot ; but of the latter three 

 bulbs will be sufficient. All tulips require 

 a good supply of water when in flower, and 

 to be shaded from the sun. The single 

 Due van Thol is the earliest of all. If 

 these be planted in September they may be 

 had in bloom before Christmas, and by 

 later planting, a succession may be kept up 

 for some tftne. Of the large double tulips, 

 which are remarkably showy, the best 

 varieties are Imperator rubrorum^ Duke of 

 York (bronze crimson with a yellow mar- 

 gin), Extremite d'Or (rich crimson bordered 

 with orange), La Candeur (pure white), and 

 Tournesol (scarlet and yellow). The soil 

 and treatment necessary for these, whether 

 grown in pots or in the open ground, are 

 the same as recommended for hyacinths, 

 which see. 



Early Double Tulips. The massive 

 torm, brilliant, diversified, and beautiful 

 colours, which are leading features in 

 double tulips, admirably adapt them for 

 beds on the lawn, terrace, or flower garden, 

 and for edgings to rhododendron, azalea, 

 and rose beds, or for planting in the flower 

 and shrubbery borders in groups of three or 

 more. In pots the variety of this section 

 are very attractive, but as a rule they are 

 better adapted for out-door than in-door 

 decoration. 



Parrot Tulips. The parrot tulip has a 



singularly picturesque appearance ; the 

 flowers are large and the colours brilliant, 

 so that when planted in flower borders and 

 the front of shrubberies they produce a 

 most striking effect. When grown in 

 hanging baskets, and so planted as to cause 

 their large gay flowers to droop over the side, 

 the effect is remarkable and unique. 



Turf. 



The appearance of a garden depends 

 greatly on the quality of the turf and the 

 way in which it is kept. Close cutting and 

 continual rolling is the secret of good turf. 

 On good soil little else is requisite ; but on 

 poor, sandy soil the verdure must be main- 

 tained by occasional waterings with liquid 



TURF BEATER. 



manure and a dressing with guano or soot, 

 if the lawn be not so near the house as to 

 render such applications objectionable. 



Turf Beater. 



This consists of a flat piece of wood about 

 from 9 to 12 inches square and 3 inches 

 thick, with a handle fixed to the upper sur- 

 face of the wood, as shown in the accom- 

 panying illustration. The handle must be 

 tolerably long, and must be inclined to the 

 block of wood at such an angle that when 

 raised and brought down on the turf, the 

 under surface of the block may fall flat 

 upon it. The end of the handle should not 

 be cut at an angle, but inserted just as it is 

 in a hole cut in the wood for its recep- 

 tion. 



Turf, Laying on Lawns, 



This is best performed during tb*nomta 

 of November or December. 



