286 



JOURNAL OF HOBTICULTTJEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. 



I October 11, 1864. 



year the leaves will be pretty well decomposed, and on 

 digging in the succeeding autumn they will be brought to 

 the surface, and thus the soil will be enriched by a not-over- 

 stimulating manure. Fresh leaves being put in every au- 

 tumn, the beds annually receive a dressing of vegetable 

 matter, which saves dung ; and in dry summers especially 

 the roots- lay hold of the decomposing leaves, when the plants 

 are becoming exhausted by blooming. No one thinks of 

 thinning the bloom of bedding plants, and the consequence 

 is that in summers like the past they bloom themselves to 

 death. The beds being thus prepared, if the soil is free I 

 simply plant the bulbs from 4 to 6 inches apart in lines, 

 double rows being more effective than single, allowing the 

 same distance between the two lines, and 1 foot between 

 each pair of double rows. If in beds, 6 inches from bulb to 

 "bulb is a fair allowance. Insert the bulbs 3 inches below 

 the surface; and if the soil is wet place a little dry sand 

 around each, but on light soils this is unnecessary ; then 

 rake the surface and make it neat. The beds should slope 

 .from the centre to the sides, and the borders from the back 

 "to the front. 



The bulbs should be planted from the beginning of Oc- 

 tober to the beginning of December, the middle of November 

 Ijeing a suitable time. It is very desirable to plant in dry 

 weather, for unless the ground is in good working order the 

 bulbs are almost certain to become unsound, especially if 

 • .kept in a very dry place previous to planting. About the 

 middle of December the surface of the beds should be 

 covered with an inch or two of partially decayed leaves, 

 which serve as a protection against frost, keep the beds 

 from becoming saturated with rain, and afford nourishment 

 to the roots. By spring the leaves will be thoroughly de- 

 composed by the action of the air, and be in a suitable state 

 for being dug into the beds preparatory for bedding-out 

 plants. 



NARCISSUS. 



Those known as Polyanthus Narcissus are as well adapted 

 for planting out of doors as for pot culture, and a bed of 

 them is at least novel and fragrant. They require precisely 

 the same treatment as Hyacinths. 



Garden Narcissus, as the Hooped Petticoat, Trumpet, 

 Bheasantf s-eye, and other varieties are usually styled, are 

 admirably adapted for borders, and a bed or two may be de- 

 sirable. The roots should be planted from the middle of 

 October to the middle of November, but the earlier the 

 better. Plant them about 3 inches apart, and the same 

 depth, in ground stirred deeply, and in good heart. Planted 

 in borders in clumps of from sis: to twelve bulbs they look 

 well, and the flowers are very desirable for bouquets in 

 spring. 



Once planted it is not necessary to remove them oftener 

 than once in three years, and then the bulbs should be 

 put in as soon as the ground can be prepared for them, 

 always renewing the soil if they are planted in the same 

 place. It is not uncommon to see these roots left for years 

 without any care whatever, and as they increase fast the 

 clumps become large, and are poor in consequence. On 

 tn In ug them up it would be well to consider whether it may 

 not be desirable to plant the smaller bulbs in woods near 

 the outsides, by woodland walks, in the front of shrubberies, 

 or in parks. The most suitable time to remove them is 

 when the foliage decays. 



The double white Narcissus is remarkable for its delicious 

 odour ; and the charming N. bicolor with white sepals, and 

 funnel of yellow, is distinct and fine when it can be had 

 true to name. The Trumpet Narcissus (N. maximus) is also 

 fine ; and the Sulphur Trumpet (N. moschatus) desirable. 

 Pheasanf s-eye (N. poeticus), pure white, with its cup varie- 

 gated with red, will be in every garden ; N. bulbocodium 

 (Hooped Petticoat), is rich and effective ; N. incomparabilis 

 flore pleno or Nonpareil, Silver Phoenix, bicolorata or Orange 

 Phcenix, not excepting bifrons, with its Jonquil-like flowers, 

 and the Jonquils are all fine, but must yield to the glorious 

 N. pseudo-Narcissus, or single Daffodil of our woods, and 

 the Van Sion, or double. 



TULIPS. 

 Probably no flower is so worthy of extensive cultivation 

 for the ornamentation of the flower garden as the early 

 single Tulips. They are very numerous, and many of them 



are dflittle value for planting in masses, but having grown 

 a number of them T can vouch for those named below being 

 good bedders. 



YELLOWS. 

 Canary Bird, rich pure yellow, attaminga height of -about-9 inches. 

 Pottebakker Yellow, yellow self, of good form, and effective ; 9 to 12 inches. 

 Dnc Van Thol, yellow, early, and very dwarf ; 4 to 6 inches. 

 Yellow Prince, a good yellow, about 9 inches. 

 Thomas Moore, orange, distinct ; 9 inches. 



WHITES. 

 Pottebakker White ; 9 to 12 inches. Surpassed by none. 

 Luna. A neat flower and very effective. 

 Queen Victoria, fine form, but small; 9 inches. 

 Jagt Yan Delft, white self, fine form ; 9 inches. 

 La Laitere, white, heightened by an outer blue tint ; fine.; 9 inches. 



SCAELET SHADES. 

 Typhon, crimson scarlet, rather small, but effective ; 9 inches. 

 Due Van Thol, scarlet, very beautiful ; 6 inches. 

 Cramoisie fidele, intense scarlet. 

 Couleur Cramoisie, crimson scarlet, small, but "fine. 

 Vermilion Brilliant, the best of the scarlets ; 6 to 9 inches. 

 La Belle Alliance, rich crimson scarlet ; 6 to 9 inches. 



BLUE SHADES. 



Florida, purplish violet, fine ; 9 inches. 



Berangaria, a purple with a little mauve in it. Very fine. 



Archus, violet purple, hlac belt; 9 inches. 



Caiman, violet or puce, with lilac margin. 



La Plaisante, violet, with a slight rosy tint. 



Wouverman, violet purple ; fine. 



FEATHEBED, STEEPED, AND TINTED IN VARIOUS SHADES. 

 Due Yan Thol, red with orange border, early ; i to 6 inches. 

 Keizerkroon, yellow ground, flaked vivid scarlet. Queen of the early 



Tulips. 

 Royal Standard or Standard Royal, -white ground, flaked with carmine. 

 Alida Marie, white, tipped and flaked with cerise ; extra fine. 

 Bride of Haarlem, white bordered with crimson. 

 Rosa Mundi, white, shaded rose ; fine. 

 Grand Due, yellow and crimson. 

 Rose Luisante, rosy crimson, peach edges. 

 Due Major, rich red, margined orange yellow ; G to 9 inches. 

 Rose Tendre, white, feathered and striped crimson. 

 Roi Pepin, white, striped or rather flaked-with crimson. A new kind, and 



a great improvement. 

 Ma Plus Aimable, a bronzy red flaked with orange ; 6 to 9 inches. 

 Standard of Gold, yellow, crimson tip ; very gay. 



DOUBLE TULIPS. 

 Tournesol, scarlet and yellow. The most effective Tulip in cultivation. 



Yellow Rose, yellow. The best yellow bedding Tulip. 9 inches. There 



is a variety of this with variegated leaves. 

 La Candeur, white. The best uf all whites. 9 inches. 

 Res Rubrornm, crimson scarlet The best of the reds. 9 inches. 

 Imperator Rnbrorum, crimson scarlet ; gay ; 9 inches. 

 Pfflony Gold, golden yellow feathered with crimson ; to 9 inches. 

 Couronne Pourpre, rich crimson ; very effective ; 9 inches. 

 J r arriage de ma Fille, white, striped violet rose ; 1 foot. 

 Overwinnar, white, barred and feathered violet purple ; 6 to 9 incfles. 

 Gloria Solis, crimson with yellow border ; 6 inches. 

 Due Yan Thol, red and yellow ; 6 inches. 



There are in addition to these the Parrot Tulips, which 

 have flowers of large size and brilliant colours, forming most 

 effective groups in borders. Of these, Perfecta, scarlet and 

 yellow; Constantinople, red; Feu Brillant, scarlet; Coffee 

 Colour; Belle Jaune, yellow; and luonstre Eouge, crimson, 

 are amongst the best. 



Then there are late or rather show Tulips, which are not 

 the fashion just now, but if ever a sight is worth seeing it is 

 a bed of these under canvass on a bright day in early summer; 

 but knowing little about Feathered Bizarres, Flamed Bi- 

 zares, Feathered Byblosmens, Flamed By blcemens, Feathered 

 Eoses, Flamed Eoses, and Selfs, I shall leave them to be 

 disposed of by those more initiated in such matters. 



Tulips like a deep rich soil, light rather than strong ;_ but 

 any kind will answer if free of stagnant water, and stirred 

 to a depth of a foot or IS inches. If very light a dressing of 

 cool manure, as sheep or cowdung about a year old, spread 

 an inch thick on the surface, and pointed in, will contribute 

 to their vigour ; but if the soil is very tenacious and heavy, 

 the same thickness of sharp sand would be preferable. By 

 all means plant in dry weather, placing the bulbs 6 inches 

 asunder every way, but the smaller kinds, as the Due Yan 

 Thols, should not be more than 3 or 4 inches apart, planting 

 them so that the apex of each may be covered 2 inches in 

 wet soils, and 3 inches in those which are dry and loose; a 

 coverino- of b>ht mould, especially if the soil is heavy and wet, 

 is conducive to success. Although Tulips will grow and flower 

 if stuck into the soil in almost any way, yet they annually 

 become weaker in growth, and fewer in number, until they 

 at last disappear. Once planted they require no further 



