Remarks on the cultivation of the Tulip. 191 



TREATMENT WHILE IN BLOOM. 



This is the period the florist expects to reap the reward of 

 his hibors. As the buds begin to show their various colors, 

 and to open their cups to the genial influence of the sun, great 

 attention should be given to them; if the rays of the sun are 

 powerful and scorching, the awnings should be lowered to 

 shade the flowers, and rolled up again as soon as it can be 

 done with safety, as the covering is only intended to protect the 

 bloom from the mid datj sun.^ and during storms of wind and 

 rain. In fine cloudy weather, or during warm gentle showers 

 of rain, the awning should be up, and always kept up during 

 the night, (unless the appearance of a storm forbid it,) that 

 the plants may receive strength and vigor from the dews and 

 midnight air. If the season should prove dry, and the wea- 

 ther hot, soft water, when it can be obtained, otherwise water 

 that has been exposed to the action of the sun and air for at 

 least twenty-four hours, should be applied, late in the even- 

 ing, moderately and cautiously, between the rows, through the 

 rose of a watering jiot; the |)lants may also be syringed light- 

 ly, after the cups have closed up for the night, which will 

 greatly refresh them. 



TREATMENT AFTER THE BLOOM. 



Remove the awning entirely, as soon as the bloom is over; 

 cut off the seed pods, and stir up the soil; cojitinue to keep 

 the bed free from weeds, and the soil loose about the plants. 



Taking up the bulbs. — In a few weeks, the foliage and stems 

 of the flowers will become withered, at which period the bulbs 

 may be taken up. Care should be taken in this operation, that 

 they be not bruised or cut; a small spade or round pointed trow- 

 el, will be found to answer for this purpose very well. When 

 removed from the soil, they should be put into a dry room, ex- 

 posed to the air, but not to the sun. When the bulbs are dry, 

 all the soil should be removed from them, and then put away in 

 boxes or bags. Persons cultivating large beds of tulips of the 

 finer varieties, under name, keep them in boxes made expressly 

 for that purpose, with seventy apartments in each box, viz. seven 

 rows across by ten in depth; each apartment being marked 

 and numbered to correspond with a book containing the names 

 of the bulbs in each of the different apartments. While the 

 plants are in bloom, the flowers are examined by the cultiva- 

 tors, to ascertain whether they correspond with the record 

 book; if they do, they are checked; if not, a memorandum is 



