skin from about the crown, put a little sand at the bottom of each hole, then place the bulb in, and cover it with sand; taking great care not to bruise the bulb, as the least disruption of the vessels will occasion canker, by which the bulbs would be destroyed. When all are planted rake the bed over to give a sinooth and neat appearance.

PROTECTION. When the operation of planting the bulbs is completed, fix hoops over the bed, and cover them with canvass or matting during keen frosty weather, or on occasion of heavy rains only, as gentle rain, and the influence of slight frost on the soil is rather beneficial to the growth of the bulbs than otherwise. When the leaves make their appearance, continual examination of the bed will be necessary, and all insects must be destroyed. During March and April, the beds may be occasionally watered with advantage, but only when the surface of the soil appears dry and parched.

BLOOMING. From the moment that colour begins to shew through the unfolding buds of your Tulips, the bed will require constant attention. Taller varieties must have their stems supported by sticks, as, on account of their tenderness at this stage of their growth they are very apt to snap. An awning must also be erected, for the two-fold purpose of protecting the flowers from the rays of the sun, and from rain. The former, if not intercepted, absorb all the colours from the petals, destroying the beauty of the bloom, and have a withering effect on the whole plant; the latter, by one single shower, would break every flower in your collection, and all your previous care and labour would be thus at once destroyed. These consequences are

avoided by the erection of the awning; the period of flowering is greatly lengthened, and you are richly rewarded by the daily delight of looking upon some of the most gorgeous flowers with which nature adorns the earth, in their highest attainable perfection.

TAKING UP THE BULBS. The lifting of the bulbs, and their preservation during the season of rest, is a point of considerable importance in the general management of the Tulip. It is usual as the petals fall off to remove the incipient seed-pods, unless seed be required, by which means the juices, which would naturally flow towards maturing the seed, are checked, and become absorbed by the bulb. When, on examination, after this, it is found that the stems will bend down to the ground within two or three inches without snapping, or when they are changed to a purple hue, the bulbs are considered to be in a fit state for lifting, which operation should be performed on a cloudy day. Being taken up, they are spread in a dry and airy place, but covered so as to be sheltered from sun and rain, until the end of August or September, when the offsets are removed, and loose skin gently rubbed off, without injuring or bruising the inner skin. This done, they must be stored away in shallow boxes or trays, divided into compartments, numbered in accordance with a plan of the same, and the bulbs arranged therein, so as to correspond with a numbered list of your varieties. Each bulb occupies a separate compartment, and is covered with perfectly dry sand. Sea-sand must not be used, because it contains a large portion of salt, and when the atmosphere is damp, the moisture would be absorbed by it; mildew would be engendered, and the bulbs destroyed.

CASUALTIES.-The Tulip being subject to the ravages of the wire worm, and suffering also from grubs in spring, it is of importance to have a reserve bed in order to replace those which are thus destroyed in the principal bed.

FORCING THE TULIP.-Early varieties, such as Duc van Thol, may readily be forced either in pots or glasses. When attempted in the former, the pots should be narrow and deep, filled with sandy loam, and set in a greenhouse, when they will flower at the same time as the Hyacinth. When in glasses, it is necessary to change the water once or twice a week, or by its becoming fetid the bulb will be injured.

COMPOST.-Yellow loam, if heavy, two barrowfuls; if light, three barrow fuls; one barrowful each of well decompsoed horse manure and washed sand; and if at hand a small quantity of soot and leaf mould. These should be mixed together nine months, at least, before the compost is wanted, and should be frequently turned in the interval

CHARACTERISTICS OF A FINE TULIP.-It is necessary that the stem should be strong, elastic, and erect, and more than twenty four inches high. The flower large, and composed of six petals; proceeding horizontally from their base, and turning up so as to resemble a goblet, round at the bottom, and rather wider at the top. The three outer petals must be larger than the inner three, and broader at the bottom, they must all be perfectly entire at the edges, without notch or indenture; the top of each is required to be broad and well rounded. The bottom of the cup must be either a clear yellow or white; and each petal must be enriched with one

or more stripes of various colours up the middle, quite distinct at the edge, but fading away into feathered or pencilled points before reaching the bottom, which should always be free from stain.

And now we have presented our readers with portraits of flowers of all seasons- -of those which bloom in all their beauty when Earth may have put on her snowy mantle; of others which delight in the life-restoring warmth of Spring, when she seems to be awakening from a torpid sleep; of those whose richly-coloured petals and fragrant odours charm the senses throughout the glowing heat of Summer; and those again that remain with us when Nature is preparing for her periodical rest.

May those who read this book see many revolving years; and as each succession of flowers reminds them of the advancing seasons, so may the comparison of the present with the past show to them an accession of contentment and of happiness!

THE END.

B. CLARKE, Printer, Silver Street Falcon Square London.