By Seed

An excellent French authority gives these directions: - "When the ripeness of the tulip seed, where the flower has bloomed in a full exposure, is indicated by the opening of the capsule, it is cut off a few inches below the head, and placed in a very dry situation, in order to insure its perfect maturity. This being accomplished, the seeds are taken out, and should be sown, about the middle of October, in a bed of well prepared earth, which has been passed through a coarse sieve, and covered about the eighth of an inch in depth with soil of a fine and light texture, which will allow the free vegetation of the seeds without in-crusting or becoming hard. The beds must be protected from sharp frosts by covering them with leaves or with mats, and likewise kept perfectly free from weeds. If these necessary precautions are attended to, the tulips will come up towards the end of February. From the size of a small pea in the first year, the roots will increase considerably during the two following seasons, and each time when the leaves fade, I spread over my seedlings about an inch in thickness of similarly prepared soil to that with which the seed was covered, being satisfied, that from the loss of time and the greater extent of land they will occupy by taking them up in the second year and replanting them, it is the better plan to allow them to remain till they have made their third growth.

" I do not take up mine until that time, and in a few days afterwards I replant them about two or three inches in depth, and about three inches apart from each other, in a well prepared bed. Lastly, in every succeeding year, I set them in fresh soil, being convinced that they attain their full size much sooner when treated in this manner, especially if sand has been mixed with it, or lime rubbish, which has been enriched with good rotten manure or vegetable soil."-Gard. Chron.

By Offsets

The same practical horticulturist observes, that -

"The side bulbs always reproduce flowers identically with those from which they derived their origin. Their period of blooming varies according to their size; it occasionally happens in the first year, but sometimes it is six or seven years before they flower. During August the bed must be prepared for their reception ; and in September they must be planted from two to four inches apart, according to their size. Should their planting be deferred till November, it is very possible that many of the smaller ones will shrivel and perish. When they are put into the ground or taken up, the same system is followed as in the main collection, so that all mistakes may be avoided, and by that means the amateur will be able to replace any bulbs which by accident or otherwise he may have lost in his choice or best beds." - Gard. Chron.