THE 



FLORICULTURAL CABINET, 



JULY, 1st, 1S38. 



PART I, 



ORIGINAL COMMUNICATIONS. 



ARTICLE I. 

 REMARKS ON THE PROPERTIES OF THE TULIP. 



BY MR. JOHN «LATER, ALBION PLACE, LOWER BROUGHTON, NEAR MANCHESTER, 



The properties requisite to constitute a fine Tulip are as follows. 

 The stem ought net to rise less than from thirty inches to three 

 feet and upwards, from the surface of the bed, strong and elastic, 

 so as to shew the flower to the best advantage, which a short 

 weak stem cannot. A flower must not be despised or discarded 

 because it does not rise to the prescribed height, as there are many 

 fine varieties which does not come up to this standard. The cup 

 of the flower should be proportioned to the stem, that is, a tall 

 stem, should support a large flower, and vice versa, so as to ap- 

 pear neither too light nor too heav}', composed of six thick and 

 fleshy petals which should run out from the centre at first a little 

 horizontally and then turn upwards, forming almost a perfect cup 

 with a round bottom, rather wider at the top, the three exterior 

 petals should be larger than the three interior ones, and 

 broader at the base. The opinion that the exterior should be 

 larger than the interior (an effect almost at variance with expe- 

 rience) has been copied by all who have attempted to describe a 

 fine tulip, but in my opinion a flower whose petals are equal in 

 wze and form ; will, when expanded, present the most admirable 

 Vol. VI. No. 65. o 



