148 FLORA HISTORICA. 



The Tulip, when raised from seed, differs so 

 materially from the parent plant, that we can never 

 expect to procure the same variety, but by its vivi- 

 parous nature the kinds are propagated with all 

 the character of the old bulb. Thus, whilst it runs 

 into a thousand varieties by its oviparous powers, 

 it remains steady when propagated by offsets. The 

 natural history of the Tulip also differs materially 

 from that of other bulbs, and is therefore worthy 

 of more attention than we generally bestow upon 

 those objects which do not continually present them- 

 selves to the eye. The Tulip has what is termed a 

 solid bulb, and sends its stem from the centre, but 

 it does not possess the power of forming a germ in 

 the old bulb like the coated bulb of the Hyacinth : 

 for the bulb of the Tulip is entirely exhausted by 

 the act of flowering and forming seed, and no part 

 of the old bulb remains, excepting the dry outer 

 husk, or coat; but the stem is attached to the 

 stool of the bulb, to which is also fixed an entire 

 new bulb, that contains the germ which holds the 

 flower for the succeeding year. If this bulb be 

 carefully dissected in the winter, the flower, which 

 was destined to charm the admiring eye in the fol- 

 lowing spring, will be perfectly seen in miniature. 

 The offsets are weaker and smaller bulbs, that re- 

 quire from two to four years before they produce 

 flowers : these should be separated from the large 



