June J, 188?. ] 
JOURXAL OF HORTICULTURE AXD COTTAGE GA RLEXER. 
433 
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BUN 
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To 
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Linnean Society at 8 p.m. Bead Dg Show. 
Trinity Sunday. 
TULIPS. 
ROUND London this season the Tulips which 
are now largely employed for bedding pur¬ 
poses have been unusually late, but they have 
compensated for the tardy appearance of their 
flowers by the brilliancy of their colours, which 
have seemed more noticeable perhaps on ac¬ 
count of the partial absence of other flowers. 
One disadvantage respecting this lateness is 
that the beds have been at their best at a time when, 
under ordinary circumstances, they would have been 
cleared ready for their summer occupants, and these in 
consequence will be correspondingly late. Such diffi¬ 
culties as these, however, are unavoidable in our uncer¬ 
tain climate, and we can only submit to them with as good 
a grace as possible. Certainly we cannot dispense with 
Tulips in the spring flower garden, especially in cities or 
their suburbs, and it is only regretable that more atten¬ 
tion is not given to them for such purposes and places. 
Hyacinths look dull and heavy in comparison with the 
rich, varied Tulips, and by the exercise of a little thought 
and taste some delightful effects' may be produced. In 
bedding out Tulips there is, however, too great a tendency 
to go upon conventional lines, and year after year we see 
the beds devoted to varieties of one colour or in alternate 
lines, and very rarely is any attempt made to introduce 
other plants, though many that flower in spring might be 
used for margins to such beds with excellent results. 
Those with white flowers, like the early Iberis or Arabis, 
would be best suited for the purpose in broad bands, or if 
the Tulips rose from a carpet of similar plants the effect 
would be good. This season the displays in Ivew Gardens, 
Hyde Park, Regent’s Park, and the Temple Gardens have 
been very beautiful, and what might be almost described 
as an experiment at Kew has given much satisfaction. 
The broad walk there with the beds on each side is espe¬ 
cially suited for effects of this description, and viewed 
from either end the masses of brilliant colours have been 
seen to excellent advantage. In the City itself of course 
there are all the difficulties of smoke and dust to contend 
with, but the success achieved in gardens like those 
attached to the Temple proves what can be accomplished 
even under such circumstances. 
Beautiful as the bedding varieties of Tulips are, they 
are incomparably surpassed by the superb forms that have 
been under the special care of the florists, and these un¬ 
fortunately have of late years been much neglected in the 
south of England. In the north there are still some 
enthusiasts who grow collections of the choice named 
varieties, and anyone who has seen one of the remarkable 
shows held by the National Tulip Society in Manchester 
would readily understand why these plants have so long 
retained a place in the favour of florists. Upon one occa¬ 
sion when visiting Manchester at the end of May we 
undertook a pilgrimage to one of the most noted collec¬ 
tions in the north, that of Mr. S. Barlow, Stakehill House, 
Middleton, and though the day was hot and the road un¬ 
comfortably dusty there was ample to repay for the 
trouble when the destination was reached. Mr. Barlow is 
widely famed for his Polyanthuses, but he has an extra¬ 
ordinary collection of Tulips, comprising a great number 
of varieties in all the sections, and he is skilled in all the 
minute differences between the forms of Bizarres, Bybloe- 
mens, &c. 
Some idea of the collection may be gained from the 
fact that over 8000 flowering bulbs were grown every year, 
together with at least 12,000 “half bulbs,” “non¬ 
bloomers,” and offsets, the varieties represented being 
about 230. All these were in beds nearly 4 feet in width 
and 20 yards long, from which the original soil had been 
removed to the depth of 2 feet. A drainage of rough 
material was then placed in, and over this the compost, 
that chiefly consists of excellent mellow fibrous turf, of 
which there is a large quantity stored up in one of the 
sheds. The soil is raised 6 to 8 inches above the level,, 
being supported with boards of the same width placed 
round the edges. In these beds the bulbs are planted 
about 7 inches apart every way, the lines being taken 
across the beds. The position is moderately sheltered on 
all sides, some of the beds being afforded special protec¬ 
tion by means of hoops, over which a light covering is 
placed at night and in unfavourable weather. One has a 
permanent framework with one side boarded up and the 
upper part glazed, and in this bed a few flowers were 
showing colour, but they were not much in advance of 
those that had been hooped over. The regularity with 
which the varieties of different heights had been arranged 
was excellent, and when the flowers are all fully expanded 
the effect is such as would not be readily forgotten. 
Tulips in the north no doubt will be later this year 
than usual, but the annual Show is to be held next Satur¬ 
day (June 4th), and for a week from that time they will 
be in full beauty. It is regretable that we never see an 
exhibition of this kind in the south of England, and 
though on one or two occasions in recent years some 
attempt has been made to draw public attention to the 
plants by exhibiting collections of blooms at South Ken¬ 
sington they have not produced much effect, and the 
majority seem to be satisfied with crowded pots of bulbs 
seen at the early spring shows or with the bedding varieties 
previously referred to. It is, in fact, a very difficult 
matter to re-awaken an enthusiasm as regards plants that 
have once been favourites but have been pushed on one 
side to make room for later introductions to popular 
favour. 
Some lovers of hardy plants have taken the species or 
types of Tulip in hand with good results, as they are very 
interesting, and some are very useful from a decorative 
point of view. Tulipa Gesneriana, the principal parent of 
the florists’ Tulips, is a handsome plant, even in what would 
perhaps be termed its unimproved state, with large glau¬ 
cous leaves anti beautifully symmetrical scarlet flowers. 
Then, too, there is Tulipa suaveolens, another beautiful 
species which appears to have been largely concerned in 
the production of the bedding Tulips. Crossed with T. 
Gesneriana it has also added to the diversity of form and 
colour in the florists’ group, and has conveyed the valuable 
qualities of fragrance and earliness. To T. Gesneriana 
no doubt we owe most of the brilliant scarlet and orange 
No. 362.—Vol. XIV., Third Series. 
No. 2018.—Vor.. LXXVI., Old Series 
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