APRIL.] FLOWER-GARDEN ANEMONES, &c. 203 



the centre, that it may appear to the eye a little convex. 

 Regarding colour, fancy does not agree, and the most 

 scrupulous cultivators differ materially. However the 

 more pure and bright the finer, or a white with a pink 

 centre, or the centre of the petals with a paler or deeper 

 colour appearing striped, which is considered to have 

 a good effect. 



Those of a good Tulip are the stem strong, elastic, 

 and erect, about two feet high, the flower large and 

 composed of six petals, proceeding a little horizontally 

 at first, and then turning upwards, forming a flat-bot- 

 tomed cup, rather widest at the top; the three exterior 

 petals should be larger than the three interior ones, 

 and broader at their base ; the edges of the petals en- 

 tire, free from notch or ruggedness ; the top of each 

 well rounded ; the colour of the flower at the bottom 

 of the cup ought to be pure, white, or yellow, and the 

 rich coloured stripes which are the principal ornament 

 should be pure, bold, regular, and distinct on the mar- 

 gin, and terminate in fine points elegantly pencilled. 

 The centre of each petal should have one bold stripe, 

 or blotch of rich colouring. The ground colours that 

 are most esteemed are white, the purer the finer ; or, 

 on the othqr hand, the dark grounds, and of course the 

 darker the better; but these vary in estimation, accord- 

 ing to the prevailing taste of amateurs. 



ANEMONES AND RANUNCULUS. 



Moist weather and frequent showers are highly es- 

 sential to the perfecting of these flowers, and if these 

 should fail at this season of the year, artificial means 



