PLANTING AND PROTECTING FLORISTS' TULIPS. 



9 



of old decayed sods is highly recommended. Keep a good look-out for wireworms, which 

 are very destructive and are often found in the sods. Make the soil firm and allow it 

 to lie until the planting season, which is from about the 15th of October until the 

 8th of December, the first week in November being a good time. 



Choose favourable weather for planting, and if the soil has sunk to 3 or 4 inches 

 below the level of the bed 

 rake it over slightly, and 

 mark off the rows G inches 

 apart. Use a piece of wood 

 4 feet long with seven marks 

 6 inches apart on it to place 

 across the bed when planting, 

 so as to keep regular dis- 

 tances between the bulbs. 

 The taller-growing tulips are 

 placed in the centre, the 

 heights gradually decreasing 

 to each side. A little sand 

 may be placed below the 

 bulbs, which are then pressed 

 gently down so that they 

 may keep upright. When 

 this is completed fill up the 

 bed to the level of the boards. 

 One or at the most two 

 bulbs may be placed at each 



Fi». 58. Tulip, Sutton's Silvek Wing. 



commended, any good garden soil will do, using preferably that manured for a previous 

 crop. 



Protecting the Beds. 

 After planting, the beds should be protected from heavy rains and also from the 

 scraping of cats or dogs. For the latter purpose galvanized netting is placed round and 

 over the beds by some growers. They also protect from rain and excessive frost by 

 erecting a framework over the beds, covering the top either with thin oiled cloth or glass 



