ON THE TULIP. 281 



with a fine collection of splendid kinds of Tulips. He observes 

 that the Tulip grows naturally on the Savoy mountains, and in 

 the neighbourhood of Nice. It furnishes varieties of which the 

 two principal are, first, Bizarres, and second, those on a white 

 ground. The first are those which have a yellow tinge, mingled 

 with other colours, but entirely exclude white. 



They were in great esteem forty or fifty years back, but are look- 

 ed on less favourable at present. Many persons, however, culti- 

 vate them still, to form a contrast, by their dark shades of colour, 

 with those on a white ground. The last named kinds, on the 

 contrary, have not the slightest trace of yellow. Sometimes, 

 indeed, at the moment of blowing, a few exhibit a pale shade of 

 yellow, put the rays of the sun soon render them of a pure white. 

 These are again sub-divided into two classes : the first into tulips, 

 on a white ground, streaked with red, pink, crimson, &c. ; and, 

 secondly, those on a white ground, streaked with violet, amaranth, 

 purple, lilac, &c. The tulips, commonly called Dutch, are the 

 only ones now admitted into a choice collection, and of these 

 there are about 700 good varieties. 



In order to be admitted into this privileged class, certain con- 

 ditions have been laid down by lovers of the flower, which the 

 tulip should fulfil, and to fail in even a single regulation is sufficient 

 to cause it to be rejected. These conditions ar,e, first, regularity 

 of form ; secondly, harmony of proportions between the several 

 parts ; thirdly, firmness of the stalks and petals ; and, fourthly, on 

 each of these a union of at least three colours clearly defined. 



With respect to the first condition, it is indispensible that, from 

 the point of junction, the petals should bend themselves gracefully 

 about a third part of their height, and then describe a straight line 

 to the top, so as to form a sort of cup with a circular opening. The 

 summit of the petals must not be in the slightest degree, blunt or 

 jagged at the edge. 



Referring to the second condition, the width of the flower ought 

 to be about three-quarters of its height. The nicest harmony of 

 proportions ought to reign, not only in the different parts of the 

 corolla, but also between this latter and the stem. The bulk of 

 this ought to be co-ordinate, both with its own height, and with 

 the colour of the corolla. Thus a flower, with breadth equal to 

 its height, a long stem supporting a diminutive flower, or a fine 

 corolla inserted into a weak, bending, or ridiculously short stem, 



Vol. VII. No. 82. ll 



