September 21, 1912 



THE GARDENERS' MAGAZINE. 



710 



EARLY'FLOWERING TULIPS 



FOR BEDDING. 



Prominent among the several classes of 

 bulljous plants that are available for the 

 Droduction of colour effects in the flower 

 warden during the spring months are the 

 early-flowering tulips in their wondrous 

 diversity of colour. They should not he 

 planted to the exclusion of other kinds 

 of' proved excellence, such as the daffodils 

 and hyacinths but it must be admitted 

 that in no other class of bulbous plants 

 flowering during the earlier months of the 

 year do we find such varied and brilliant 

 colouring as in the flowers of the tulips, 

 This is a point of some importance, and to 

 large numbers of flower lovers it is not less 

 important that the bulbs of a consider- 

 able nmnlier of highly meritorious varie- 

 ties can be purchased at a price which 



he planted at the proper distances apart 

 for the produition of a really satisfactory 

 display. In many instances the more ex- 

 pensive varieties are purchased, and the 

 bulbs planted so far apart as to render it 

 impossible for them to produce a really 

 satisfactory effect. 



The selection of varieties is a matter that 

 requires rather more attention . than is 

 usually given. It is, of course, essential 

 they should he of good quality, and the 

 colours suitable for carrying out the 

 colour scheme that has been prepared, hut 

 this fact is so fully recognised that there 

 is not much cause for criticism. It is, 

 however, sometimes overlooked that not 

 only should the height of the flower stems 

 and the colour of the flowers be such as 

 to properly fit into the scheme, but the 

 varieties used in carrying out a design 

 should bloom simultaneously. Therefore 

 in selecting tulips for a geometric or other 



Crimson King, scarlet-crimson ; King of 

 the Yellows, rich yellow ; Mon Tresor, 

 another fine yellow variety; White Hawk, 

 pure white. The mid-season varieties are 

 more numerous than the foregoing, and 

 the following may be mentioned for their 

 high merit: Artus, scarlet; Chrysolora, 

 deep yellow; Cottage Maid, pink shaded 

 white; Duchesse de f arma, bright orange- 

 red with yellow margin ; Jpost Van Von- 

 del, rose-crimson ; Keizerskroon, scarlet 

 with bright yellow margin ; La Reine, 

 wliite tinted rose; Ophir d'Or, rich yellow, 

 very fine; Pottebakker, scarlet; Prince de 

 Ligny, deep yellow, rather tall ; Prince of 

 Austria, rich orange-scarlet, fragrant, very 

 fine in colour; Snowfiake, pure white ; and 

 Wouverman, purple-violet, very distinct 

 and useful 'for the contrast of colour it 

 aflfords. The most useful of the late varie- 

 ties comprise: C-ouleur Cardinal, deep sc-ar- 

 let; Rose Grisdelin, rose shaded white; 



AN EFFECTIVE BED OF TULIP WOUVEKMAN AT KEW, 

 The flowers of this variety are of large size, and in colour are rich claret-purple. 



1 



places them within the reach of owners of 

 ^udens 



of all classes. Hence it is that 

 ^tiey should be fully utilised in arrange- 



Jiients of spring llmvcrs in the garden. 



"e finest of the varieties of recent intro- 

 j''if-tion should be purchased and planted 

 'y those to whom the cost is not a matter 

 serious consideration because of the 

 Plt^asure that may be derived from them, 

 ^'Ut for the production of distinct and 

 '^'autifui displays of colour either alone 

 in a^ociation with hyacinths and daffo- 

 * s , it is not necessary to have varieties 



IK' 



number 



J »^uch merit for bedding ])ur])oses can 

 '^ obtained at prices ranging from four to 

 shillings per hundred. Reference is 

 t-o this point for the purpose of 



to be 

 ieties 



^J^S^ting that wlu^-e tlu* amount ' 

 ■ PPmhHl is limited the che:)i>er var 



btained, so that the bulbs can son ; 



scheme varieties that bloom about the same 

 time should alone be included. When 

 they are required for filling beds occupy- 

 ing niore or less isolated position, or tor 

 forming groups in the mixed border tlie 

 exact period of flowering is not a matter 

 of any consequence. 



The earliest of the tulips to bloom are 

 the Van Thols, but for bedding arrange- 

 ments they need not be taken mto con- 

 sideration. Putting these on one side, the 

 remaining varieties may, so far as regards 

 their flowering, be form.ed into three 

 groups. The periods flower develop- 

 ment are relative rather than actual, l>ut. 

 the date is immaterial provided those used 

 in a design bloom simultaneously, or nearly 

 so. The earliest of the single tulips to 

 bloom after the Van Thols include the fol- 

 lowing, whi<-h can be strongly recnmmende<l 

 for bi'dding piir]K»ses; Hacclius. <birk cnm- 



Belle Alliance, 



Thomas Moore, orange-red ; and AVlute 



Swan, pure white. 



Tulips should be ]>lanted as early in 

 October as the beds and borders can 

 conveniently be prepared for their recep- 

 tion. Three inches is a good depth at 

 which to plant the bulbs, and they should 

 be planted five or six inches apart each 

 way. The accompanying illustration of 

 tbe beautiful l:ed of the deep claret-purple 

 Wouvrrman. wlii( li. with a number of 

 otliers formed. Hanked the broa<l walk in 

 the Royal (iardens, Kew. in the spring of 

 the ]ireseut year, is of interest as sliowing 

 thtv splrndid effect ]U ()<lu<*od ulicu tlie bulbs 

 are ]>liinted rather <l()se together, as here 

 advised. WluMi tulips are grtnvn in as-;)- 

 ciation with the gohlen alyssum, the white 

 arabis or wallflowers of suitable colours, 

 the bulbs may bo allowed mor^ space, but 

 when iirown in beds wholly <lcvoted to them 



brilliant scarlet; thin phinting is a mistake. 



