278 FLOitVEH 'garden. 



desirable. Among the bizarres, the King, Polyphemus, 

 and Everard, are highly prized. 



Tulips prosper in a prepared compost of light turfy 

 soil, richly manured with well-rotted cow-dung. Twenty 

 inches depth of soil should be removed, and the vacant 

 space filled up with compost. Some use alternate 

 layers of light soil and cow-dung. The bed should be 

 filled up with compost about the middle of October, 

 and in a fortnight, when the soil has subsided, the bulbs 

 are planted in rows, distant seven or eight inches, and 

 at the depth of about three inches. A little clean sand 

 may be put around the bulbs. After planting, the bed 

 may be covered over with tan, as in the case of hya- 

 cinths. In spring, it is necessary to shield the leaves 

 and flower-stalks from frost, and also from heavy rains; 

 and when in bloom, the flowers should be sheltered 

 from the sun's rays, by which they are speedily injured. 

 A canvas awning, so mounted on a frame that it can 

 be easily withdrawn and replaced, is requisite for every 

 fine collection. The tulip is often regarded as scent- 

 less; but this is a mistake, for when concentrated under 

 the awning, the odor is very perceptible. After the 

 sepals have fallen, the seed-vessels are broken ofi" close 

 by the stem, to prevent the plant from exhausting 

 itself in perfecting seed, and to direct its energies to 

 the forming of the new bulb. When the leaves have 

 "withered, the bulbs are taken up, dried, and stored, 

 until the j^lanting season come round. 



Tulips are readily propagated by offsets, which are 

 taken off from the parent bulbs, and nursed in separate 

 beds till they be full grown. New varieties are raised 

 from seed ; they are from five to seven years old before 

 they flower^ and, if raised from promiscuous seed, they 



