2 
Carl Purdy, Ukiah, California 
TULIPS, continued 
at least one-third of the day, but half the day is better. The northeastern or north- 
western corner of a building is best, but trees will give the same shelter. The bed must 
not be where sharp winds may reach it. 
Soil. Tulips prefer a light, well-drained soil, but can be grown well in any soil 
that is not mucky. If the soil is heavy, it should be underdrained with tiles, gravel or 
any other porous conductor, and had better be raised 6 inches. 
Manure should be used, well-rotted cow-manure being the best. It may be spread 
on the surface an inch thick and dug in, or, better yet, applied as indicated below. 
Distance Apart and Depth to Plant. Tulips will do well when planted 3 inches apart 
each way, or sixteen to the 
square foot. The standard dis- 
tance is 4 inches apart each way, 
or nine to the square foot. It 
is a waste of space to give them 
more. 
Fancy Beds are to be 
avoided. They are only fit for 
open spaces and in California it 
is foolish to attempt them. A 
bed 3 to 4 feet wide, where the 
best situation can be given is 
much better, and it is also better 
to plant in wide variety so as to 
prolong the season, and to aim 
to have fine flowers for cutting 
rather than to produce a mass 
effect. 
Shade. The best shade 
is one that is continually shifting 
so that the beds are in the sun 
a while and in the shade for a 
time. This is best obtained by 
watching the shadows of trees 
which are not closely planted 
or often still better by giving 
the outer shade of deciduous 
trees which are not too dense 
and through whose branches 
the lights play and change. 
Mulching. A mulch of 
rotted manure put on in the 
spring before the tulips are 
through the ground is a most ex- 
cellent thing. It keeps the ground 
from being packed and holds 
moisture to the top. It should 
not be of new or wet manure but 
of manure that is fairly well 
rotted and which can be spread 
neatly over the bed with a rake. 
Plant Early. By this I do 
not mean August or September, as I have found no advantage whatever in having the 
bulbs in before the period of rains and cooler weather. Mid-October is the best time 
November about as good, but further delay will be at the expense of the flower. By 
no means plant later than January 1. 
Method of Planting. The best method is that used in the great fields in Holland, 
where they are grown by millions. First, thoroughly spade and pulverize the soil and 
give drainage if it is needed. Then throw out the soil from a section of the bed to the 
depth of 7 inches. Put in a layer of manure an inch deep and cover with an inch and 
a nalt of soil bet your bulbs 3 or 4 inches apart each way, and then cover them gentlv 
witti the soil from a second section of the bed. Proceed in this way until the bed is 
planted and then level with the remaining soil. As the bulbs are about 2 inches high 
this will give them a cover of about 3 inches of soil. While well-rotted manure is prefer- 
