408 On the Cultivation of the Tulip. 



quil. The contemplation of any of the works of God has a 

 mig-hty effect in soothing and quieting the tumult of human 

 passions, and this precious power over the heart is freely 

 given, even to the lilies of the field. Where we see a love 

 for these, that is not the place to look for the turbulence of 

 passion, or the debasements of sensuality. When we see by 

 the road-side a cottage, around whose door the sweet-briar 

 and the honey-suokle are climbing, and before which, in its 

 little garden, is displayed even the humbler flowers, — the 

 marygold, the pansy, the aster, and the poppy — how instinc- 

 tively do we form a favorable opinion of the inhabitants of 

 that cottage; how certain we may be of finding peace, con- 

 tentment, and affection, inmates there! p p 

 October, 1835. ^- ^• 



Art. III. On the Cultivation of the Tulip. By J. W. Russell, 

 Superintendent of Mount Auburn, Cambridge. 



The season for planting bulbs being at hand, and presum- 

 ing that some remarks would not at this time be unappropri- 

 ate, particularly in regard to the flowering of the tulip, I 

 with pleasure send you the following, which will be, 

 perhaps, of some interest to your readers, and extend the 

 cultivation of this favorite flower. 



To attempt to describe this lovely genus, would, I humbly 

 conceive, be an insult to the common sense of any commu- 

 nity. The beauty of the tulip flower draws the attention of 

 the most careless observers, and as it were, makes itself 

 known to them at once, because it is one of those kind of 

 flowers, when taken notice of, is rarely or ever forgotten. 

 The Dutch are famed through the civilized world, for their 

 splendid collections ; inasmuch as some of their private ones 

 have been valued at some thousands of pounds sterling. In 

 England I have had the care of tulip bulbs, that were valued 

 from five shillings to five pounds sterling, a single bulb ; this is, 

 perhaps, one reason why we so seldom meet with a choice 

 collection in this country; the first cost being so great, and 

 the time it necessarily takes, to give them proper attention, 

 is another considerable item with those who have busi- 

 ness to attend to, and who have but a small portion of 

 time to spare, in the care and production of elegant flowers. 

 Nevertheless, there are persons in every city who can afford 



