A couple of years ago we were producing some home made jam. We had boiled up the fruit and added the sugar, when a terrible thing happened. Our pet hamster, which we allowed out of its cage, ran across the work surface and dived headlong into the boiling mixture. We were doubly upset not only was the hamster killed , but the jam was also ruined. After it had cooled we scattered it over the garden as a sort of memorial to our deceased pet. Early the next year, the spring flowers started to appear in our garden, crocuses and daffodils as usual , but this year the tulips were the best ever – bigger and more vibrant and colourful. It just goes to show that you get the best tulips from hamster jam.