TULIP TIPS 
Tulips should be planted during October or 
early November in most sections of this coun- 
try. Southern California and other warm cli- 
mate gardeners have best luck with a pre- 
cooling system. They place the tulip bulbs in 
the food storage section (not the freezing 
compartment) of their home refrigerators for 
about six weeks and then plant during early 
December. 
Good drainage is most important in select- 
ing a place for tulip plantings. If the soil is 
too wet, root formation is delayed and the 
bulbs may rot. Best results are to be had by 
using soil that Tulips have not been grown in 
for at least two years. Growing more than two 
years in the same soil will eventually lead to 
failure. Tulips do best in an open sunny loca- 
tion but will bloom in semi-shade. 
The practice has been to plant tulips about 
five inches deep but deeper planting is now 
becoming more popular. For those not caring 
to dig the bulbs each year we recommend plant- 
ing very deep, about 9 or 10 inches. By doing 
this the bulbs will not split up so much and 
will give better flowers over a longer period. 
Since the roots go at least six inches below 
the bulb it is advisable to prepare the soil at 
least 16 inches deep. 
If the soil below the bulb needs fertility, 
mix bonemeal with it at the rate of about 
three handfuls to the square yard. Do not use 
manure. Although moles seldom bother tulips 
that are planted very deep, it may be wise to 
mix benzine hexychloride with the soil around 
the bulbs. 
After the soil below the bulbs has been care- 
fully worked and well firmed, a thin layer of 
sand should be spread over it. Tulip bulbs 
should be spaced about four inches apart on 
this layer of sand. The soil placed above the 
bulbs should be light and porous. 
Tulips should be dug and reset each year 
if the old shallow planting method is used. 
Dig when the foliage has turned yellow, it need 
not be completely dry. Store in shallow trays 
in a cool, dark place until fall. 
For indoor blooms we highly recommend the 
short-stemmed Single and Double Early Tulips. 
Pot the bulbs as soon as received in a good 
loam soil. Some sand and peat moss mixed 
with the soil will be beneficial. Old pots should 
be washed thoroughly, new ones should be 
soaked. Place a few pieces of charcoal or frag- 
ments of broken pots over drainage hole. The 
top of the bulb should be about one-half inch 
below the surface. 
Bury the pots outside under six inches of 
soil or ashes, water well. In 10 to 12 weeks 
move to the cellar, or any cool dark place for 
about two weeks. Tops should now be several 
inches above the soil and buds showing. Pots 
may now be brought inside to a temperature 
of 50 to 60 degrees. Later when the flower 
buds are well advanced the temperature may 
be increased to not over 65. A little liquid 
manure once a week will hasten the blooming 
and improve the quality. 
GORGEOUS RAINBOW MIXED TULIPS 
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