MAT. 



175 



woods, and the Juniper sheds its impregnating va- 

 pour." * 



Once more the garden demands our notice, for 

 there the Tulip-beds are become one dazzling blaze of 

 splendour, almost tiring to the startled gaze. This 

 familiar but gaudy flower, like many others of the 

 parterre was derived from the East, and it still flou- 

 rishes spontaneously in Asia Minor, its name being 

 derived from some resemblance to the turban worn 

 by the orientals. The Tulip found its way into Eng- 

 land in the reign of Elizabeth, and now constitutes 

 one of those "florists' flowers 1 ' on which cultivators 

 bestow so much time and trouble to induce perfection 

 in the bloom itself or create new varieties. To this 

 they are instigated with increasing ardour by the 

 various Horticultural Exhibitions so common every 

 where in the present day, and growers look carefully 

 over their beds, and make those selections from 

 whence their prize flowers of " Bizarres" and" Bybloe- 

 meus," with a thousand princely and imperial names, 

 are to bear away the palm from a host of streaked 

 competitors. 



The " Tulipomania' 1 that once raged in Holland, 



A. O ' 



when Tulip-bulbs passed from hand to hand at great 

 premiums, like our present mining and railway shares, 

 without any one wishing permanent possession, has 

 been often dilated upon ; yet few besides professional 

 florists, are aware that, even now, certain rare bulbs 

 bear an enormous price. Not very long ago, a Lon- 

 don florist transmitted us a list of his bulbs for sale, 

 with their prices, which for curiosity we now extract 

 from, premising that the sums annexed are per root, 



* STILLINGFLEET'S Calendar of Flora. 



