APRIL,] FLOWER-GARDEN. 335 



Common tulips will require no other care, in the borders, &c, 

 than keeping them free from" weeds. 



A description of the properties of a fine Variegated Late TULIP. 



The stem should be strong, elastic, and erect, and about thirty 

 inches above the surface of the bed. 



The flower should be large and composed of six petals ; these 

 should proceed a little horizontaly at first, and then turn upwards, 

 forming almost a perfect cup, with a round bottom, rather wider at 

 the top. 



The three exterior petals, should be somewhat larger than the 

 three interior ones, and broader at their base : all the petals should 

 have perfectly entire edges, free from notch or serrature ; the top 

 of each, should be broad and well rounded ; the ground colour of 

 the flower, at the bottom of the cup, ought to be a clear white, or 

 yellcw ; and the various rich coloured stripes, which are the prin- 

 cipal ornament of a fine Tulip, should be regular, bold, and distinct 

 on the margin, and terminate in fine broken points, elegantly fea- 

 thered or pencelled. 



The centre of each leaf or petal, should contain one or more bold 

 blotches, or stripes, intermixed with small portions of the ori- 

 ginal or breeder colour, abruptly broken into many irregular obtuse 

 points. Some florists are of opinion, that the central stripes, or 

 blotches, do not contribute to the beauty and elegance of the Tulip, 

 unless confined to a narrow stripe, exactly down the centre, and 

 that they should be perfectly free from any remains of the original 

 breeder colour : it is certain that such appear very beautiful and 

 delicate, especially, when they have a regular narrow feathering at 

 the edge ; but the greatest connoisseurs in this flower, unanimously 

 agree, that it denotes superiority, when the Tulip abounds with rich 

 colouring, distributed in a distinct and regular manner throughout 

 the flower, except in the bottom of the cup ; which, it cannot be dis- 

 puted, should be clear, of a bright white, or yellow, free from stain 

 or tinge, in order to constitute what is considered a perfect flower. 



Tulips are divided into two classes, -viz. early and late blowers. 

 The late, are infinitely the finest and most valuable,and are of course 

 entitled to the principal attention of the curious. They are divided 

 into six distinct families, or rather divisions of the same family, viz, 



1. Primo JBaguet's, which are tall; the colours, brown on 

 white. 



2. Baguet Rigaut's, these are not so tall j and have strong stem* 

 and large cups ; the colours as before. 



3. Incomparable Verports. The characteristics of these are, the 

 form of the cups, which are very handsome ; the colours a shining 

 brown on white. 



4. Bybloemen's. These have a white ground, with a variety of 

 colours. 



5. Bizards. The colours of these, are on a yellow ground, various, 

 and consisting, in the whole, of three or more. 



