450 AMERICAN HOME GARDEN. 



strong. To counteract this tendency, and to preserve and im- 

 prove the beauty of the flowers, " tulip-fanciers" pursue a sys- 

 tem of artificial treatment by which the root is weakened, and, 

 in fact, diseased ; the bulbs, being taken up every year as soon 

 as the tops die, are dried and planted again in the fall. This 

 annual drying of the roots is usually found sufficient to pre- 

 serve their character, except in wet seasons or too rich soils ; 

 but, in order to improve them or to originate new varieties, 

 seedlings are raised, or certain kinds of superior form are se- 

 lected, and the drying, accompanied by change of soil and 

 other means, is carried to an extreme, the change caused by 

 the process being technically called " breaking." 



With seedlings, which, for this purpose, are always raised 

 from finely-formed " selfs" that is, flowers of one color with- 

 out striping, the process is ordinarily continued for seven or 

 eight years before they break into their proper colors, or attain 

 a sufficient degree of fixedness in their habit. 



Sometimes tulips break naturally; the cultivator finds a 

 flower which, from its exquisite beauty, he does not at once 

 recognize, and marks it for special preservation ; but when, in 

 due season, he digs for the root, it is found to be entirely de- 

 cayed : the process of improvement had been carried to its cli- 

 max. It was the hue of beauty on the cheek of death, exqui- 

 site loveliness linked to extreme fragility. 



Persons often become enthusiastic in their admiration of 

 these flowers, and very expert in their proper arrangement in 

 the bed, which, under such hands, becomes one of the finest of 

 floral exhibitions. With this view it is made seven rows wide, 

 the taller-growing varieties occupying the centre or fourth row, 

 and being known as " fourth-row flowers ;" those somewhat 

 shorter, or the weaker roots of the former varieties, being set 

 on either side, and known as third-row flowers ; and so on to the 

 first row or outside flowers, the disposal of colors for the pro- 

 duction of effect being also carefully attended to. 



Double tulips seldom deserve culture, being coarse, formless, 

 and generally thick colored. The double yellow rose-scented, 

 the golden-centred crimson, and the bright red-striped " Ma- 

 riage de ma fille," may be reckoned as exceptions. 



