THE TULIP. 125 
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 propor- 
tions 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, are blemishes which the severe 
taste of good judges proscribe as fatal. 
As to the third law, we may remark that strength and straightness 
of stem are indispensible. Here the petals must be well furnished, for 
they then resist more easily the power of the solar rays, 
To satisfy the fourth condition, it is necessary that at least three 
colours should appear, harmoniously combined, so that the eye may 
loye to rest on the union. They must be well defined, bright, and 
formed into regular designs; they must continue perfect up to the 
time of the flower going off, without running into each other from the 
effects of rain, or becoming weak and dried from the rays of the sun. 
Tulips are obtained in two different manners—by seed and offsets. 
Experience proves that any variety of Tulip is not reproduced by seed ; 
and hence amateurs always have recourse to this mode of propagating 
it when they desire to obtain new kinds, which kinds they denominate 
Conquests. In order to obtain the accomplishment of their wishes 
with more certainty, they take care not to employ any seed but that 
which comes from Tulips having the bottom of the petals of a pure 
white, because the colours of Tulips proceeding from such seed develop 
themselves more rapidly than those produced from other seed. Tulip 
seed ought to be placed in the earth about the month of October, in 
ground well prepared for its reception. It should be protected from 
the frost by layers of leaves or mats. When carefully attended to, the 
plants will appear above ground towards the end of February, From 
the size of a pea the first year, the root will increase considerably in 
the two following springs. At each of these periods, when the young 
leaves are faded, I spread over my plants about an inch of earth, such 
as coyered the seed originally, and the bulbs remain untouched. This 
I allow a second winter, when the bulbs being a good size, I take them 
up, and afterwards treat them as others. When I replant I place them 
at a depth of three inches, aud two or three inches apart. Latterly, 
each year, I replant them in fresh ground, convinced by experience 
that they reach perfection sooner by changing the soil, particularly if 
it-has been well manured and fertilised by having grown other plants. 
