THE CULTURE OF THE TULIP. 



BY JAMES DOUGALL, AMHERSTBURGII, CANADA. 



I> this country, where there is but little of 

 the " retired leisure that in trained gardens 

 takes its pleasure," which abounds in older 

 countries, comparatively little attention has 

 hitherto been paid to florists' flowers; and 

 especially is this true with reference to 

 what has often been considered the most 

 beautiful of all flowers, namely, the Tulip. 

 The claims of this flower to considera- 

 tion are, its tall graceful shape, its large 

 symmetrical flower, the pearly or golden 

 purity of the ground, together with the un- 

 rivalled variety and beauty of the coloured 

 streaks that mark the petals, which are 

 probably without comparison in the floral 

 kingdom. Such characteristics would war- 

 rant the cultivation of the Tulip by all ad- 

 mirers of fine flowers, even though that cul- 

 tivation were difficult and uncertain ; but 

 when it is added, that few flowers are more 

 hardy, or grow with less care, it is easier 

 to account for the enthusiasm respecting it, 

 that has long prevailed in Europe, than for 

 the apathy of the florists of this new conti- 

 nent. 



The characteristics of a fine Tulip are, 

 1st, a strong upright stem; 2d, a large 

 flower, with the petals so arranged as to 

 form a perfect cup, neither too short nor 

 too long ; 3d, a fine white or yellow ground 

 colour, — and if the latter, any shade from 

 cream colour to the deepest gold ; 4th, 

 streaks, stripes, or edges of rich colours 

 around, or through the petals, and as nearly 

 uniform on the three outside and three in- 

 side petals as possible, — there being a 

 slight difference in the marking of the two 

 sets. 



The most common faults of Tulips, the 



opposites of the foregoing, a weak, bending 

 stem, pointed or loose and straggling petals, 

 a cup too short or too long for symmetry, 

 colours running into each other or clouding 

 the purity of the stripes, running down to 

 the bottom of the petals, or, worst of all, a 

 dark coloured bottom to the cup, or, what 

 is equally bad, a yellow bottom if the ground 

 be white. 



Double and parrot Tulips are only kept 

 for curiosity, and as border flowers ; and 

 early and sweet scented Tulips are in the 



Fig. 408.-^1 Perfect Tulip. 



same predicament. None of them are ever 

 considered as belonging to fine collections. 

 The same may be said of selfs; that is, 

 those which are all one colour, and marled 

 Tulips. 



The culture of Tulips is very simple, as 

 they will grow in almost any soil and with 

 almost any treatment ; but in order to bring 

 them to perfection, they should have a deep, 

 moderately rich soil, not recently manured, 

 or, if so, with very old manure ; as fresh 



