ON THE CULTIVATION OF TULIPS. 33 



who " will be heard." The important point next arising is, where is 

 our line of demarcation to be drawn ? AVe need no trigonometrical 

 survey — no high and mighty referee, like the King of the Netherlands 

 on the American boundary. This is the plan that I propose : — Take 

 a map of England (to be found in every monthly issue of " Bradshaw," 

 and sufficiently accurate for the purpose), place your ruler on Lynn 

 and Swansea, and mark the line across the entire land from Norfolk to 

 Glamorgansliire ; this I take to be a fair apportionment of interested 

 localities and counties, and quite near enough to settle the matter ; 

 may my " land scheme" prove less harassing than otliers of higher pre- 

 tensions ; here we have a guide to know who is who ; those who feel 

 themselves aggrieved sliould forthwith appeal, and tiie commissioners I 

 propose are Messrs. Wood, Beck, Neville, Harrison, Glenny, &c., 

 who will, no doubt, hear evidence and make their award,^ — and a just 

 one, too, — alike satisfactory to all. This settled, let us devise means 

 to turn such decision to some account : to this end, a universal canvas 

 must be made for certain returns ; I therefore, with much pleasure, 

 move — 



That every cultivator furnish me with lists of the best twelve Pinks ; 

 ditto twelve Picotees ; ditto twelve Carnations ; giving in full the 

 names of their chosen representatives, under whose ownership they are 

 known, and in what county raised. '=' 



These will give us a stepping-stone for lasting reference ; nor is that 

 all, for such returns must be tested — that is the rub; means must be 

 found ; men of weight and character must be chosen ; the tilting- 

 grounds decided on; and in 1850 sucli a floral tournament proclaimed 

 throughout the land, with " quality, not quantity," for its gathering 

 cry, as shall make the welkin ring. 



I have a printed form in preparation for general distribution to all 

 post-paid applicants who may enclose a stamped and directed envelope ; 

 and I earnestly solicit the co-operation of every florist in every villao-e, 

 county, or shire, by applying for the same, with which full instructions 

 M'ill be given and prompt attention urged. The result of all this must, 

 in the end, fully tend to confirm all herein stated ; and, above all, 

 bring about and increase that friendly spirit of rivalry, the want of 

 which has alone kept up the seeming differences, amounting to almost 

 animosity, which, with kindly aid, it is my object to remove and entirely 

 dispel. 



If the subject seem rather lengthily handled, there is yet matter of 

 so much vital importance still untouclied, that, at a future opportunity, 

 I may again issue from my hiding-place, and, like a giant refreshed, 

 " wage war" for the future and lasting welfare of the much neglected 

 and too often abused recreative science of floriculture. 



ON THE CULTIVATION OF TULIPS. 



IN LETTERS TO A FRIEND. 



Letter II. 

 Deae Sir, — Having in my last brought you to the formation and 

 stale of the bed, I now proceed to further particulars. The time for 



