PRACTICAL GARDENING

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28872, 17 April 1959, Page 3

PRACTICAL GARDENING

Specially Written for “The Press”by

T. D. LENNIE. N.Z.

Thoughts On TULIP TIME

The known history of the tulip goes back for more than four centuries when it was first noted in Turkey; but it must have been well established there long before that time. The eastern countries bordering upon the Mediterranean have given us many of our lovliest garden flowers which, once they reach Europe, have come in for improvement and gained popular favour. In addition to the tulip, ranunculus and anemone may also be cited as examples of this. Although quite hardy, the tulip is rather fastidious and prefers a moist, cool situation in full sun, with some root shade from adjacent plants. That is why it does well and makes a wonderful show when inter-planted with dwarf growing plants like wallflower or sweet william. It differs from the narcissi, however, in that it will not flourish when planted in grass.

Through the year the tulip has been the subject of much experiment and improvement, and, today, the English Darwin is perhaps the best type developed with its vigorous habit and large cupped flowers in many colours. For effective massing, our illustration of one of the beds in the Botanic Gardens gives an excellent example of how well the tulip, in conjunction with the lower-grow-

mg wallflower, lends itself to brilliant spring display. Collectors have a wide field of choice available to make a selection when it comes to tulip variety. Some of these are unique in shape and form; but all are gracefully colourful in the spring display. The bulbs do best when lifted each year about December and stored, after drying, for planting again in the autumn.