TUL 



[ 896 ] 



TUL 



and would then be in danger, however 

 well-protected, of being frost-nipped, 

 and, consequently, injured not only for 

 that year, but also for years to come. 



The Method of Planting is governed j 

 by the height of the flower- stems ; for j 

 as some varieties grow taller than j 

 others, the tallest should be in the j 

 centre of the bed. This consideration 

 renders it necessary to plant them in 

 rows length-ways of the bed, and not 

 across it. This being determined upon, 

 let the soil of the bed be levelled and 

 made tolerably smooth; then, with a 

 triangular hoe, draw a drill the length 

 of the bed, as near two inches deep as 

 possible. To accomplish this quite 

 straight, it will be necessary to have 

 a line stretched very tightly the whole 

 length of the bed, at such a distance 

 from the centre as will allow the point 

 of the hoe, in drawing the drill, to be 

 exactly in the centre. As soon as the 

 drill is drawn, bring out all the tall 

 growers, and plant them, five inches 

 apart, at the bottom, giving each a 

 gentle pressure. When the row is 

 finished, thrust in at each end a strong 

 stick, this is to mark where the row of 

 bulbs is when covered up. Of very 

 choice and expensive varieties, some 

 florists recommend covering the bulbs 

 with fine white sand, but if the soil is 

 mixed with sand, we think the white 

 sand may be dispensed with. Cover 

 them up by drawing the soil over them 

 with a short-toothed rake. After that 

 let the soil on each side of the planted 

 row be stirred up with a three-pronged 

 fork. Then set the line at the right 

 distance from the centre (we mentioned 

 that the beds should be four feet wide, 

 which would allow nine inches between 

 each of the five rows, and six inches 

 next the edging), the line then must 

 be set at such a distance from the 

 centre, that the next row of bulbs will 

 be exactly nine inches apart from the 

 centre one. Draw the drill the same 

 depth as the first, and plant the next 

 tallest flowers in it. Then mark the 

 row with a stick at each end, and so 

 proceed till the whole is finished, the 

 lowest growers will then be next the 

 paths all round the bed. Each variety 

 must be numbered, and the numbers 



put in so securely, that they cannot be 

 easily displaced. 



Shelter necessary for the flower before 

 and when in bloom. Where the col- 

 lection is small, and the means small 

 too, this consists merely of hoops, 

 either of wood or iron, with canvas 

 covers or mats to be thrown over the 

 hoops, which should be high enough 

 to keep the covering clear of the flowers. 

 This covering should be applied not 

 only when the plants are in bloom, but 

 also to shelter them from the late 

 frosts that sometimes come after the 

 plants make their appearance ; as well as 

 from the cutting winds that often visit us 

 in this country during the early months 

 of the year. This shelter, however, 

 must not be used except when abso- 

 lutely necessary. Too much shelter 

 only coddles the plants, and makes 

 them so tender that a too sudden ex- 

 posure, or the least neglect in applying 

 the covering, would be equally as in- 

 jurious as no shelter at all ; therefore, 

 on all favourable occasions remove the 

 coverings entirely, and let them have 

 the benefit of fine weather and gentle 

 rains. 



Where the collection is large, and 

 the means ample, the most convenient 

 width of each bed would be five feet ; 

 this will hold five rows, nine inches 

 apart. A walk between them may be 

 eithe* three or four feet; the latter 

 will allow more room for the operator 

 and the spectator. Three feet beyond 

 each bed, on the outer sides, place a 

 row of pillars, four-and-a-half inches 

 square, to support the shelter; each 

 pillar may either be let into the ground, 

 and well rammed, or be inserted into 

 an iron or stone socket. These pillars 

 should stand above the surface at least 

 five feet, and at a distance of five feet 

 from each other. On the top of each 

 pillar a rafter should be placed, to 

 meet a corresponding rafter in the 

 centre of the space just over the centre 

 of the walk. Each rafter, at the junc- 

 tion, must be firmly fastened to a lon- 

 gitudinal piece of wood running the 

 whole length of the beds ; the length 

 of the beds depending, of course, upon 

 the number of roots, or size of the 

 collection. There will then be required 



