FLORICULTURAL HINTS. 
261 
As to the position and proportions of the classes, much differ¬ 
ence of opinion exists, and, as it is merely a matter of taste, I 
would advise each grower to please himself. Some prefer the 
bizards, others the roses, and so on. My own fancy inclines to 
an equal proportion of the three; and, when roses run short, I 
make up with bizards, or at least give them the preference. 
Advantage must be taken of the first settled weather we get, to 
put the bed in order, if not already done. Everybody knows 
that tulips delight in strong, rich earth; but every one is not 
acquainted with its effect when the strength is a little in excess. 
To make a tulip-bed of anything like a remarkable size, altogether 
new, every season, is more than the majority of us can afford or 
feel inclined to do; and, supposing its staple to be good loam 
and the usual quantity of manure, I do not see the necessity for 
an entire renewal, especially if it has grown nothing since the 
tulips left it in summer. The state of the flowers last season 
and the condition of the bulbs when taken up, must be taken as 
an index of any alterations necessary. If the flowers were foul 
and the roots overgrown, add a good portion of road-sand; if, 
on the other hand, they were small, and the roots seemed to re¬ 
quire invigorating, some fresh turfy loam and a larger proportion 
of manure will meet the case. So also with regard to the time 
of planting : it should be hastened or retarded as the flowers are 
fine or out of character; coarse strains being often corrected 
by keeping the roots out of the ground three weeks or a month 
beyond the usual period. After the bulbs are planted, carefully 
guard the bed from heavy rains, which, if permitted to fall on it, 
wash the nutriment below the reach of the young fibres, and, by 
consolidating the mass, renders it more subject to be frozen, and 
less adapted for the healthy development of the foliage of the 
plants. 
Picotees and carnations are getting established in their pots. 
Let them have abundance of air to harden them, as a preparatory 
step against the ensuing cold weather. Dead or decaying leaves 
must be removed as, they occur, and every means adopted to 
prevent anything like a stagnant dampness. The yellow picotees 
being generally more tender, are always best when kept separate, 
and, where only a few are grown, a common handlight will afford 
them just the protection required. Water sparingly; and, while 
