168 THE NEW GARDENING 



the object of ascertaining whether there are several fairly 

 large bulbs say of the size of a small walnut. If there 

 are no such bulbs, but only offsets of the size of Horse 

 Beans, the clumps will require renewal, for these small 

 fry will not bloom the following spring. 



Drought may or may not have the effect of preventing 

 bulbs of flowering size from developing, but it is likely 

 to cause looseness of skin. I have noticed this more in 

 the case of English than of Dutch bulbs. The greater 

 proportion of sand in the soil round Haarlem and Leyden 

 gives a firm, glossy skin. It is desirable to mention this 

 point of skin-looseness, because inexperienced buyers are 

 apt to fear that a bulb which shows the white flesh is 

 defective. This is not the case. If a bulb is firm and 

 well ripened I believe that it would thrive equally well 

 whether planted with the skin intact or entirely devoid 

 of skin. 



Experience proves that while very light, sandy soil, 

 such as that in which the Dutch grow their Tulips for 

 commercial purposes, gives a beautifully bright, clean and 

 compact bulb, it does not give the finest plants and the 

 largest flowers. A deep, holding loamy soil, such as grows 

 prize Roses, gives the best Tulips. I would always advise 

 an amatieur who wanted to grow the finest possible 

 clumps of Tulips to select such a soil if it were within 

 his choice ; but I am not so sure that I should give that 

 advice to a commercial bulb-grower, for the reason that 

 he would probably get such enormous bulbs that the 

 carriage would become an appreciable item. The reason 

 seems a somewhat ludicrous one, but it is based on fact. 

 In some centres that I know the bulbs are gigantic. A 

 large bulb may or may not produce a proportionately 

 large plant and flowers ; a great deal depends on the 

 soil in which it is planted. I may, however, say at once 



