some idea as to the space a certain quan¬ 
tity will require. Naturally you may plant 
your Tulips further apart and thus save 
expenses while at the same time obtain¬ 
ing- very desirable results. Approximate¬ 
ly five inches apart and four inches from 
tip of bulb to surface of ground is a 
good average. 
PREPARING 
THE SOIL. 
Preparing the soil well has sufficient 
influence on the growth of the plant to 
warrant some trouble with regard to it. 
During the growing period in our Nur¬ 
series the bulb stores up a certain amount 
of reserve food, enough to carry it 
through the next flowering season. It 
stands to reason however, that additional 
fertility in the soil will produce stronger 
growth and more vitality in the bloom. 
Preferably in the spring the soil should 
be enriched with well rotted cow manure 
which must be spaded under thoroughly 
and well mixed with the soil. , 
During summer annuals or bedding 
plants can be enjoyed and removed when 
planting time for tulips has arrived. We 
can also recommend bone meal and pot¬ 
ash to be applied sparingly when the 
bulbs are planted. In the spring, when 
they come out of the ground a sprinkling 
of ammonia sulphate can be put on. 
CUTTING 
THE FLOWERS 
Por cut flowers the early tulips have 
little value. Although we occasionally cut 
them, we have to cut close to the bulb in 
order to have a stem of sufficient length 
and this practically destroys the bulb for 
future use. 
In the case of the long Darwin Tulips, 
as well as the Breeder and Cottage Tu¬ 
lips, the temptation to cut the flowers is 
very strong. We advise to cut them with 
as little foliage as possible and do this 
with a very sharp knife so that no 
ragged edges remain. 
If the flowers are not wanted for the 
room, leave them on until the petals 
are ready to drop, then cut them off with 
no more than half an inch of stem. In 
this way the forming of seed pod is pre¬ 
vented. 
— 7 — 
