THE ELOEAL WOELD AND GAEDEN GUIDE. 
289 
THE CULTIVATION OF THE TULIP. 
S a border flower the tulip has but one fault — it is short- 
lived. Of its splendour and variety we need say 
nothing — better is it we should make good use of what 
little space we can afford to say and prove that there 
is nothing in the catalogue of border flowers to equal 
the tulip in cheapness, adaptability to a variety of circumstances, 
hardiness, simplicity of management, and capability to make a liberal 
return for every reasonable outlay. Once become possessed of a 
variety worth growing, if the stock consists of but one bulb ; and it 
not only need not be lost, but will be sure to increase yearly with 
the most trifling exercise of care and judgment on the part of the 
cultivator. Any ordinary good soil will grow tulips well, but the 
best possible soil for them is a well-drained, very rich and mellow 
sandy loam. Partial shade they bear well ; indeed, it is the custom 
to put an awning over a bed of named late tulips, both to prolong 
the beauty of the flowers, preserve their true colours, and enhance 
the enjoyment of inspection, for a good bed of tulips is an exhibition 
in itself. For ordinary purposes, all the several classes and sorts 
of tulips may be treated in the same manner, and they will all 
flower superbly, and increase rapidly, and maintain their quality, 
though the circumstances they are subject to may not be such as a 
tulip-fancier would approve. Indeed, for the parterre and the 
mixed border no one needs expensive kinds ; at the same time, 
those who have first acquired some experience in the management 
of the cheapest will be well prepared to plunge into the tulip fancy, 
if so minded ; and they might do worse. 
The early tulips are the most useful for massing, because they 
may be taken up in time to make the beds ready for geraniums and 
other summer bedders. They should be planted in October, four 
incht-s deep and six inches apart, aud be taken up as soon as their 
leaves begin to wither, at the end of May. It is not necessary to 
wait until the leaves have quite died down ; if they are but half 
dead, the bulbs may be lifted aud laid aside, with a thin covering of 
earth, for a week, to ripen for storing. The late, or exhibition 
tulips, should be planted in November, and taken up in June, when 
the leaves begin to die down. It is no easy matter to kill tulips. 
AVe remember sending a valuable collection to the other side of the 
world, some twenty-five years ago. They were delayed in transit, 
and our calculations were upset. The result was, that nearly a year 
elapsed from the time they were taken up in England to the plant- 
ing of the roots in the colony. Then when the boxes were opened, 
it was found that the bulbs had shrivelled away to dust, but every one 
had formed a cluster of tiny offsets to take its place, and from these 
offsets our friend soon obtained stocksof the several varieties that were 
sent out to him. Some ) ears ago, we were so much occupied w ith big 
work, that the planting of our tulips was deferred and deferre , until 
at last the 2nd of April arrived, and they were found much shrivelled 
and halt-grown in their several drawers in the seed-rooms. On 
19 
Oct le.\ 
