ON THE TULIP. 



283 



the following years, gradual amelioration of the colours take place, 

 and those which at first were vague and indeterminate, finish at 

 last, though in no fixed time, by assuming clear and distinct cha- 

 racters, uutil they reach all the perfection of which they are 

 capable. Every tulip produced by seed, and as yet in a state of 

 immaturity, is called a breeder, and in this state may continue 

 from two to ten years. From the first blowing all flowers whose 

 form is ill made, or whose petals are thin, or whose stem is weak 

 and bending, or is tinged with yellow, are thrown away. When 

 the petals fall, the seed vessels are broken off in order to give 

 more strength to the root. After the fourth year, the roots are 

 treated as those of a collection already formed. The offsets of a 

 tulip always re-produce a plant identical with that from which they 

 proceed. The period of their coming into bloom is from the first 

 to the fourth year. They are planted in September, about three 

 inches apart, in proportion to their size, in ground prepared the 

 month before. A great number would perish from being dried 

 up, if planting them was delayed to November. In taking them 

 up and replanting, the same order is observed as is followed in an 

 established collection. The advantage of offsets is great, as they 

 serve to repair losses which a severe season or accident may 

 cause to the old collection. In a tulip collection, the size of the 

 roots is a matter of importance. It has been remarked that some 

 of them, of a large size, produce petals which are not properly 

 proportioned. Most frequently they become open and loose, 

 whilst when the roots, are of moderate size, the flowers are per- 

 fect. Experience, however, is the safest guide in selecting the 

 roots. 



It is not sufficient to unite the most beautiful tulips in the same 

 place, as if they are thrown together by chance or without harmo- 

 ny Not only must the heights agree, but also the colours. Art 

 in this respect comes to the embellishment of Nature. In order 

 to display as much as possible the richness and value of a fine 

 collection, the following precautions ought to be attended to, as 

 they will be found to facilitate the labour in a high degree. 



If, for instance, I have 300 tulip roots to plant, whose height 

 and colour I am perfectly acquainted with, I provide six drawers 

 with fifty compartments in each. In these I place the roots, in 

 some position where the air will have a free access. I place the 

 drawers in a case, one over the other, with a space between to let 

 in the air, and the whole is surrounded with a wire grating, to 



