12 1 ttlts. Wctober 



strong in growth, frcqucut'y growing over three feet in 

 height, with cups sufficiently large to satisfy the greatest 

 Bacchus. All writers agree that Tulip beds should be 

 "four feet wide;" though I think three and a half will be 

 found more convenient, and, in length, according to the 

 number of roots to be planted. The soil should consist of 

 good fresh loam, mixed with a small portion of well-rotted 

 stable-manure, at least two years old. The whole should be 

 incorporated together four months previous to using. The 

 common soil should be taken owt sixteen inches deep, and 

 filled with the above compost. Eaise the beds not less than 

 three inches above the paths at the outside, and about six or 

 eight inches in the middle : this convexity will assist in 

 throwing off the water in times of heavy and continued rains. 

 The bed thus formed, plant the bulbs in rows, lengthwise on 

 the bed, about six inches from bulb to bulb, and seven inches 

 from row to row. The bed may be marked out by straining 

 a line very tight, lengthwise on the bed, and beating it witii 

 the back of the spade, leaving a lined groove along the ground. 

 Then, with a lath four feet long, let the bed be marked across 

 at six inches distance, so as to leave distinct impressions at 

 each crossing of the ground-lines ; for these will form the 

 spots where the bulbs are to be plauted, by means of a dibber, 

 made larger than the largest bulb, and flattened at the end. 

 The holes are to be made tour inches deep, and about half an 

 inch of sharp sand ought to De dropped in each. The centre 

 line ought to be planted with the tallest kinds, and the out- 

 side of the bed with the lowest. In severe frosts they should 

 be protected by boards or branches. Tulips have ever been 

 held in the highest estimation. As early as 1637 history 

 records one hundred and twenty Tulips being sold at public 

 auction for no less a sum than nine thousand guilders, equal to 

 thirty -six hundred dollars ; and in England, at the present 

 day, a good collection is valued at five thousand dollars. 

 Florists generally divide them into three classes, viz., first, 

 Bybloemens, such as have a white ground, variegated with 

 purple, as Bienfait, or W ashinylon, &c. ; secondly, Bizarrcs, 

 having a yellow ground variegated with scarlet, purple, rose, 

 or velvet, as Trafalgar, Due de Savoie, &c. ; and, thirdly, 

 Koses with white ground, variegated with rose, scarlet, o? 

 crimson, as La Tendressc, Rose mignonne, &c 



