ON florists' flowers. 



79 



to flower as a Self, and it passes into the hands of various florists 

 in this breeder state. But by-and-by the breeders will break 

 into flamed or feathered flowers. Brown may have one, Jones 

 another, and a third may be in the hands of Robinson. Each 

 of these florists claim the right to name any variety that may 

 break into the flamed or feathered condition in their hands ; but 

 they are all the same thing, varying slightly in the quality of 

 the markings, and whoever happens to get the best break claims 

 to have the finest strain. The same remarks apply to all the 

 other classes. Again, a florist such as the Rev. F. D. Horner 

 obtains all the best strains in existence in all the classes, and 

 florists get to know of the superior quality of the Tulips grown 

 by him, and they may obtain this strain, calling it " Horner's 

 strain," probably because they know well that a fastidious florist 

 will not grow a bad strain of any of his favourites. Besides 

 the above-named Tulips (Figs. 40 and 41) there are the beautiful 

 species and their varieties. These will be dealt with under 

 "Hardy Bulbs and Tubers," Chapter X. 



Culture. — The following is a short resume of culture. The 

 beds being prepared as already advised, proceed with the planting 

 very early in Xovember. The bulbs should be put 5in. 

 into the ground, and as it is usually in a rather wet condition at 

 this season, I place a little quite dry sand under the bulbs, and 

 a little more over them. Some growers in the North do not 

 plant until December, but that is too late for the South, as the 

 young rootlets begin to raise the covering of the base of the 

 bulbs early in November, and they are ready to . push out 

 immediately they are put into the ground. Some time in 

 January, the plants will appear above ground, and although the 

 Tulip is a perfectly hardy plant, the leaves are likely to be 

 injured by intense frost. Fanciers have an arrangement of iron 

 hoops bent over their beds, held together by string, and mats 

 are placed over the plants in frosty weather. It is also an 

 excellent practice to mulch the surface of the beds with decayed 

 stable-manure. This very effectually keeps out the frost, if not too 

 intense, and also enriches the soil. It is not absolutely necessary 

 to cover the Tulips with mats in this way, but it is certainly 

 desirable. 



About the end of April the flower-buds would be considerably 

 advanced, and to bring out the markings of the flowers, and 

 retain the colours as long as possible, it is absolutely necessary 

 that they should be shaded from the sun, and sheltered from 



