56 BEAUTIFUL FLOWERS 



the Tulip specialists, because the show bloom is one of the least 

 valuable of this genus for flower-garden decoration. It is a flower 

 of splendid substance, beautiful form, and exquisite markings, but 

 it is not very effective in groups. Those who love it do not 

 grow it as a flower-garden plant really, although they grow it 

 in the flower garden. They make a bed for it, preparing a special 

 compost, if the natural soil of the garden is not of the best. This 

 and all other classes of Tulips love a deep, friable, moist, but 

 not water-logged soil. The fact that they are grown extensively 

 on the sand dunes of Holland must not lead the Tulip-lover to 

 suppose that they will give of their best in pure sand. There is 

 not substance and fertility enough in such soil. The Dutch bulbs 

 are good, but equally good, even better ones, are grown in Lincoln- 

 shire, Cambridgeshire, and Kent. The finest bulbs that we ever 

 saw were grown on heavy loam in Kent. They were much larger 

 than the Dutch bulbs, although not quite so clean and bright 

 skinned. Apropos of this, it may be well to say that a clear, 

 bright skin is not the chief standard of merit in a Tulip. The 

 buyer should look first for relatively large size and solidity. The 

 bulbs should be heavy in proportion to their size, and firm. Tulips 

 will grow vigorously and flower gloriously in clay, provided that 

 it is thoroughly friable ; but clay in stiff, hard, yellow lumps is not 

 to their taste. Stiff soil can be rendered friable by breaking it 

 up two feet deep, and incorporating road sweepings, mortar rubbish, 

 and ashes with it. The required condition may not come all at 

 once it certainly cannot be got by the mere waving of a rake 

 but it will come if perseverance, allied with knowledge, is practised. 

 It is very important to learn when clay soil may be cultivated, 

 and when it is best left alone. It should not be touched when 

 it is very wet. A water-logged site is very bad for Tulips ; the 

 soil should be drained. The heavier the soil is in natural texture 

 the less yard manure it will require. Generally a dressing of 

 bone flour and sulphate of potash in equal parts, at the rate of 



