GARDENING NOTES

New Zealand Tablet, 2 March 1916, Page 51

GARDENING NOTES

(By Mr.. J. Joyce, Landscape Gardener, Christchurch.) 1 TULIPS. > | My last notes being on hyacinths, it is appropriate that I follow on this week with some remarks on , tulips and their , culture, as they bloom about the same time, and might be called garden mates. Wherever you see a bed of hyacinths you are likely to find one of tulips. In their blooming season they are equally admired, especially as they come in after the snows and frosts of winter. A bed' of well-grown tulips is a most attractive sight, as they cannot be. surpassed for beauty or variety, especially if they are properly arranged as regards color and'height. They are certainly deserving of first place as spring flowers It is no wonder that' when they were first introduced about the sixteenth century people went almost crazy about them. We are told that people at that-time gave as much as 20,000 francs for a single bulb, and that an admirer gave 4400 florins for a small bulb of a certain variety, whilst ,others gave equally large sums for special specimens. One gentleman, we are told, gave a beautiful carriage and pair of horses for a bulb. Well, I suppose, we must conclude that money was very, plentiful in those days, and there were few outlets for spending it, as the habits, customs, and manners of the people were different to what they are to-day. But even still, new plants, such as rare orchids, fetch large sums. Not many years ago orchids often sold at £IOO pounds for a single plant. But now, thanks to the perseverance, energy, patience, and skill of expert gardeners, both orchids and tulips can be purchased in endless varieties, at cheap prices. Now let us return to the consideration of the preparation of the bed for tulips. The' aspect chosen should be a sheltered one from north-easterly and south-westerly winds, and where it can .get plenty of sun. If there is no shelter, it should be provided. Then the size of the bed must be decided, and about two feet of the soil thrown out. The bed must now be filled in with a good compost, made up of the top spit of a grass paddock, some well-rotted manure, and plenty of c river or coarse sand, in equal quantities. The bed, should be made above the level of the ground, to allow for the setting of the soil, and if there is any danger of water lying, it must have provision made for getting away! When the bed is finished, place a good layer of sharp sand all over it, and when the bulbs are being planted, the sand will settle in around them. About April would be a good time tor planting tulips. It is not wise to plant too early, as it is well to avoid having them bloom in the unseasonable spring weather. When planting, lay a line along the length of the bed, and draw a drill with the hoe; plant the bulbs about six inches apart and about nine inches from row to row. . They should be planted so as to allow about three inches of covering over the crown. This covering should be of a very sandy nature. Keep the surface of the bed stirred occasionally, and let no weeds take' possession. When they are coming into flower, see that they are well sheltered from the cold winds and even severe rains would be better warded off with a covering overhead. They can remain in this bed

for several years if necessary, by applying a little ' top-dressing each season, and forking over the surface of the bed. All this trouble is only necessary in case of choice bulbs. The commoner kinds-can be planted out in clumps in the open border, and left to take their chance. 'lt also pays to give them a good start at the beginning. In order to provide shelter, boughs or hoops should be placed s over the bed so that canvas could be stretched across to shield the blooms from late frosts and cutting -winds. But the shelter "must be left on only for -the occasion, and should be removed when the danger is passed, so as to allow plenty of sunlight and air among the plants. If the beds are to be of a permanent kind, a proper frame ought to be erected over the beds, like the frame of. a miniature house, and a canvas covering arranged on rollers to pull up and down when necessary. It is out of the question for amateurs to attempt to grow the tulip from seed, as seedlings take six or 'seven years before they flower, and after . that take several more years before the flowers grow into their mature forms and get established in their proper colors. The tulip, which originally came' from the East, is of the natural order of the lily, and is propagated by seeds and' offsets. :