GARDEN TULIP. 57 



that, when they wish a new variety to be ex- 

 traordinarily prolific in offsets, they cut off the 

 upper half or apex of the bulb, to produce this 

 effect. 



But the management of perfect bulbs is the 

 principal business in floriculture, and now falls 

 to be noticed : — and, first, of the compost. This 

 should consist of, — 



Three barrowfuls of rich mellow loam ; 



One barrowful of fine leaf-mould ; 



One barrowful of old and perfectly rotten 

 dung": and 



Half a barrowful of sea, river, or white pit sand. 



This compost should be collected and tho- 

 roughly incorporated several months before it 

 is wanted ; turned from time to time, kept in a 

 shady place, and from too much rain. It con- 

 tains the most suitable substances for the incite- 

 ment and support of the plant : the loam and 

 dung yield the nutriment ; the leaf-mould and 

 sand give that porosity and openness which all 

 bulbs more or less require. 



Some florists imagine that the soil, which, in 



