I 
110 THE FLORISTS JOURNAL. 
them in to the depth of three or four inches; never plant with 
a dibble, as is often practised, for it is quite absurd: if not con¬ 
venient to plant as recommended, drills might be made, which 
should be three inches deep, and the bulbs may be placed in 
them; cover them lightly with soil, as it will admit of the su¬ 
perfluous water passing off more readily than if rendered hard 
and close. 
Protection. As many of the common kinds of tulip are not 
worth protecting, it would be needless for the cultivator to go 
to any expense or trouble with them, while, on the other hand, 
the fine delicate sorts will amply repay for any trouble of this 
kind. 
After planting, the bed should be hooped over, and mats or 
canvas kept ready at hand, to protect it from heavy rains or 
severe frosts. Too long or too frequent covering, however, will 
prevent and obstruct the influence of the air on the roots, and 
cause the plants to grow weakly; moderate rains and slight 
frost are more beneficial than injurious. It might be alleged 
that it would be better to put up the awning at once, but with 
this I do not agree. It would draw the plants up too much ; 
they require to have the full influence of the sun and air, until 
the colours of the flowers begin to show; the hoops should then 
be removed, and the awning put up, for exposure at this time to 
either sun or rains would cause the colours to run and mix, and 
in this way would spoil the beauty of the flowers. 
Taking up the Bulbs. The common kinds of tulips may be 
removed with care as soon as they have done flowering, if their 
place be required for a succession of flowers; they must be care¬ 
fully taken up with a trowel or fork, but not by a spade, for fear 
of injuring the bulbs, and the seed-vessel should be removed 
just at the top of the flower-stalk; then lay them in by the 
bulbs, covering them as deep as before, but not deeper; the 
place selected for them must be in a north or shady aspect, and 
they must be allowed to remain until they are quite ripe, which 
will be about August, when they should be taken up and re¬ 
moved to some convenient place to get perfectly dry, before 
putting them away: if put away damp, they would doubtless 
get mouldy and rot. The best sorts should be allowed to remain 
in the bed, to ripen; and if it is not wished to save any seed 
from them, the seed-vessel should be removed as soon as the 
flowers fall. If this plan be adopted, the bulbs will become firm 
