DUTCH BULBS. 191 



cornuta and sylvestris). It (T. Gesneriana) was brought to 

 Europe from Persia, more than three hundred years ago, 

 and was cultivated at Constantinople. Thence it was 

 disseminated through Europe, under the name of Turkey 

 Tulip, and was first botanically described by Gesner, a Swiss 

 botanist, in honor of whom it was named by Linnseus. 



The commercial speculation in tulips reached its height 

 about the beginning of the eighteenth century, as we learn 

 from Loudon ; since then it has declined ; but still large 

 prices are often paid for new or fine varieties. 



Tulips are chiefly raised for the market in Holland, 

 though in England much attention is paid to them as florists' 

 flowers. 



Tulips are divided into three classes : Bizards, or Bizarres, 

 having a yellow ground, broken with purple or red ; Rose, 

 which have a white ground, broken with cherry color ; 

 Bybloemens, which are white, broken with purple. These 

 classes are subdivided into flamed and feathered, the former 

 being those which are somewhat striped, the latter those 

 which are only broadly marked on 'the edge. 



We abridge from Loudon, some facts of interest concern- 

 ing this flower : 



" The mode of raising tulips from seed, practised in 



