144 



the century book of gardening. 



and manure, with sharp silver sand, forms the lest 

 compost. When potted stand outdoors under a sheltered 

 hedge or wall on a hard bottom, and cover the pots over 

 6in. deep with coal ashes or cocoa-nut fibre refuse. Here 

 they should remain from ten to twelve weeks at least, 

 exposed to all autumn rains, eic. When the tops begin 

 to move, remove the pots to the greenhouse alter 

 removing the fibre from the surface, and give a 

 little weak liquid manure water until growth freely 

 begins. The way to get even potfuls of Tulips is to see 

 that the bulbs are of an even size when potting, or the 

 very early pots may be made up from store pots or 

 boxe% that is, bring the bulbs on in gentle heat, and 

 transler to the pois before the flowers expand. Give 

 plenty of water when forcing the bulbs. Tulips are very 

 easily brought early into flower, but to obtain early 

 bloom, say at Christmas, the bulbs must be potled up in 

 September. 



The so-cailed florists' Tulips, the breeders, bizarres, 

 byblremens, and roses, are not grown so largely as oilier 



forms, nor are they of the same value in the garden. But 

 they are amongst the famous flowers of history, and the 

 favourites of certain men who have raised new kinds, 

 each to be as perfect as possible in distribution of colour 

 fixed by rule. Those who wish to grow these remarkable 

 flowers should see such a fine named collection in bloom 

 as that of Messrs. Barr and Sons of Surhiton. There are few- 

 large collections in the country, although for centuries 

 they have been cultivated in English gardens. The flower 

 is self at first, but will break in course of time (sometimes 

 many years elapse) into ano'.her form — a flamed or 

 feathered Tulip, a remarkable change, and not the least 

 interesting phase of plant life. Florists' Tulips are 

 far less effective than the selfs, of which T. Gesneriana is 

 most splendid. 



Tulips require careful cultivation, especially the florists' 

 forms, byblremens, and those of that class, and when in the 

 early bud stage storms of hail and heavy rains try them 

 considerably. Many promising flower displays are 

 destroyed through weather troubles, and the leaves also 

 get damaged, with sometimes unfortunate results. It is 



shelter from storms of wind and rain that Tul'ps ask for, 

 and it is wdse to give canvas protection if possible. The 

 self Tulips appear less susceptible to disease and 

 injury from storms than the striped forms. Early 

 November is the time to plant, putting the bulbs 2jin. 

 deep, and once in two years lilt them, planting in fresh 

 ground. The dwarfer, more delicate species should be 

 planted on the rock garden. 



Turkey's Beard. — See Xerophyllum asphodeloides. 



TllSSilagO fragrans (Winter Heliotrope). — A sweet, 

 fragrant flower in winter. This is a plant that spreads 

 freely in dry soils, near shrubberies or on banks. Its 

 greyish floweis are quaint, and, if not bright to look at, 

 exhale a delicate nutty perfume. 



Veronica. — This is a large and beautiful family, the 

 plants of varying height, some quite creeping, others tall 

 and handsome in the border. V. longiflora is as con- 

 spicuous as any, and grows almost anywhere, so robust is 

 the growth. A strong, handsome kind is the variety 

 subsessilis, which has deep blue flowers in large spikes, 



and there are forms, such as alba, rosea, and Hosti. 

 Other beautiful Veronicas are V. chamcedrys, V. gentian- 

 oides and its varieties, the dwarf silvery-leaved V. incana, V. 

 pectinata, a trailing kind, pretty on the rock garden with 

 its lines of blue flowers, or rosy-coloured in the variety 

 rosea ; also the creeping V. repens, V. rupestris, and the 

 rich blue V. satureioides. Worthy of a place, too, are 

 V. saxatilis, and V. Teucrium, also known as V. prostrata. 

 None of these are difficult to grow. Propagate the her- 

 baceous kinds by division, and the shrubby ones by 

 cuttings. 



Violas ( Violets). — Besides the tufted Pansies and the sweet 

 Violets we love so well, a beautiful race remains, the kinds 

 from the mountain pastures of the world, flowers of 

 delicate beauty, sometimes sheltering in the hedgerows 

 when the Dog Violet in spring dyes the grassy bank with 

 softest blue or white. These lovely flowers are generally 

 fit only for the rock garden, where in sandy loam and 

 cool position they bloom freely for weeks. V. biflora, 

 with its pretty yellow flowers, is a charming alpine Violet, 

 so, too, the neat little V. lutea, and the Bird's Foot 



