CULTURE OF FLORIST FLOWERS. 77 



should be taken from the ground, and moderately dried in the 

 sun, and put into boxes with sand until autumn planting, 

 when the young or side bulbs are to be taken from the pa- 

 rent, as directed under " Increase of bulbous rooted plants," 

 and planted separately from the flowering bulbs. 



In places where tulips are planted in large collections, beds 

 are purposely prepared for them by taking out the soil of the 

 bad, which is generally made four feet wide, with an alley 

 two or three feet wide around it. The compost used is about 

 two-thirds good mellow loam, which should be prepared 

 twelve months previous to using it ; with it should be mixed 

 one-third good rotten cow or horse manure, and a portion of 

 good, coarse, sharp sand. This being prepared, is put into 

 the bed, and the bulbs are planted, as before directed, in rows, 

 from six to eight inches apart, each way of the bed. In this 

 method of culture, it is customary to use an awning in the time 

 of flowering, to protect the flowers from the influence of the 

 sun, which spoils their colors and prevents their being in 

 bloom any length of time ; the management is in every other 

 way the same as before stated. 



Hyacinths are also often planted in separate beds, when 

 precisely the same method is followed, with the exception, 

 that they require a lighter and richer compost than the tulip. 



The varieties of bulbous roots are so numerous, that it 

 would be impossible for me here to give any definitive list of 

 them. I have therefore stated their different divisions, or 

 classes, leaving the cultivator to choose his collection as taste 

 may dictate, which can be always done by applying to the 

 different seedsmen in the Union, who generally have good 

 collections in the planting season, in the fall, for sale. The 

 divisions, or classes, are as follows : 



Tulips are divided into several different varieties, namely, 



1. Poses, with white grounds, with rose or cherry color 

 flame, or feather. 



2. JByblomens, white grounds, with violet or purple flame, 

 or feather. 



