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THE FLOWER GROWER'S GUIDE. 



long after they are received. After flowering, store in frames and give water judiciously 

 till the tops die down, when the bulbs may be removed from the soil and at once planted 

 in the open ground, Many of them will flower the following season, and if desirable can 

 be flowered in pots again a year later. If they are taken up for this purpose, this should 

 be done in July, the smaller, or side bulbs, divided from the flowering size and planted 

 in nursery beds. 



Tulips. — These are particularly showy. With a good selection of varieties a display 

 can be continued from mid-winter to Easter. For flowering early the Due Van Thol 

 varieties, of which there are a considerable number, are the best, as they endure sharp 

 forcing. These may be succeeded by La Eeine ; White, Eed and Yellow Pottebakkers ; 

 Yellow Prince, Duchesse de Parma, Thomas Moore, L'Immacuk'e, Vermilion Brilliant, 

 and Cottage Maid — arranged somewhat in the order named. The foregoing are all single- 

 flowering, and the only doubles recommended for forcing are Tournesol, Murillo, Im- 

 perator rubrorum, Salvator Eosa, and Eose Blanche. 



Tulips for forcing ought to be potted as early as possible. Three bulbs may be placed 

 in a 5-inch pot or six in the 6-inch size, pressing them into the soil so as to leave the 

 tops just showing. Place on ashes, and cover as advised for hyacinths. If the Van 

 Thol varieties are introduced into a temperature of 65° to 70° late in November, they 

 can be had in flower in a month. The other varieties are slower in opening, but La 

 Pteine will stand rather hard forcing ; the Pottebakkers also succeed in a temperature 

 ranging from 60° to 70°. Some early tulips are apt to be too short in the stem, a draw- 

 back that may be remedied by forcing in frames or boxes, and shading rather heavily till 

 the flowers are nearly developed. 



Lily of the Valley.— Though, as previously said, neither bulbous nor tuberous- 

 rooted, these flowers are forced in the same way and for the same purpose. Very little 

 need be said in praise of lilies of the valley. They are deservedly popular with almost 

 everyone. Nor are they so difficult to force as was at one time thought. There are a few 

 conditions, however, to be observed by all who would be successful with them. In the 

 first place only the German crowns or clumps are, because of their early maturation, 

 amenable to hard forcing, the Dutch importations proving of good service for the later 

 displays. Another condition is that the crowns be kept as cool as possible till forcing 

 commences, and if they can be subjected to frost so much the better. They will not 

 start in gentle heat, and if the attempt is made to forward them in a temperature say of 

 55° to 65°, the chances are they will refuse to move. Very high temperatures are abso- 



