THE FLORIST. 
63 
TULIPS. 
The operations necessary for this month are entirely of a protective 
character, but are, nevertheless, quite as important to ensure a fine 
bed of flowers as any part of the previous management. Where 
the tulip-bed has not been already hooped over, it should be done 
without loss of time ; and the simplest mode is to 
get some round iron rods, twelve feet long, by half 
an inch diameter, and have them bent in the annexed 
form: they should be painted, and, as soon as dry, 
placed over the bed three feet apart, pressing them 
down equally, about fifteen inches, having a hoop at 
each end of the bed. When this is done, pantile 
laths should be tied inside the hoops the whole length of the bed, 
at the ridge and the two shoulders ; the ends of the bed should 
have three upright stakes driven in at equal distances, and tied to 
the hoop ; this will make the whole firm. It is also desirable, if 
there is any chance of being annoyed by cats, to have a net fastened 
round the sides of the bed, which can be tied to the pantile laths 
at the shoulders. The next thing is to get the mats or cloths ready 
for covering the bed in bad w r eather. If mats are used, they must 
have the ends tied to prevent their ravelling out, and be sewn three 
together down the selvages ; they can either be used with a pole 
fastened to the ends of the three mats, on which they can be rolled 
ready for use, which is a very convenient mode where only one gar¬ 
dener is employed, as he can, by this plan, cover and uncover the 
bed very quickly without any assistance, or where poles are not used, 
they must be folded up lengthways of the mat, ready for use. If 
cloth should be preferred as a covering, a convenient number of 
breadths must be sewn together, according to the length of the bed, 
having it wide enough to touch the ground on each side when laid 
over the hoops ; a pole should be fastened to each cloth, that it may 
be used in the same manner as described for mats and poles. The 
hoops and covering being ready, the next thing is to keep a good 
watch on the weather, as it requires the greatest care to protect the 
bed from frost and hailstones ; indeed, it is desirable to keep even 
the rain from the bed whenever there is the least chance of frost at 
night, as half the injury tulips receive arises from water lodging in 
the cups formed by the leaves during their early growth, which, be¬ 
coming frozen, expands, as well as the frozen earth around their 
stems, and the consequence is, that the pressure ruptures the vessels 
of the leaves, and mortification takes place frequently to an extent 
sufficient to destroy the plant. 
ClapTicim Rise. H. Groom, F.H.S. 
If this should meet the eye of any florist who has tried the cultiva¬ 
tion of Pinks in pots, a brief outline of his system, with the results, 
will oblige, Harriet Keer. 
