THE BAKUNCDHTs.] PKACTlCi: OK 11 ( ) liTI C ULT UK E. 



[rut U.VItLIA. 



yellow. The least stain, even at tlie lower 



I'tul of tl>o petal, would rt'iuler a tulip com- 

 paratively valueless. "Whatever be the ilispo- 

 «itioa of colours or marks upou a tulip, all tho 

 six petals should bo marked aliko ; and be; 

 therefore, perfectly uuifunu. Tiio feathered 

 flowers should have an even, close featlicring, 

 forminfj au unbroken edging all round. If 

 the flower have any marking besides the 

 feathering of the edge, it should be a beam or 

 bold mark down the centre, but uot to reach 

 the bottom of the cup ; tho mark or beam 

 must be similar in all the six petals. Flowers 

 not feathered, and w'ith flame only, must have 

 no marks on the edges. None of tho colour 

 must break through to the edge. Tiie colour 

 of the petals should not descend too close to 

 tho bottom. The height should be from 

 eighteen to thirty-six inches ; the former 

 being right for the outside row in a bed, and 

 the latter for the centre or highest row." 



The proper soil for tulips is similar to that 

 suitable for hyacinths, and the season for 

 planting the same. 



THE R.YNUNCULUS. 

 This flower is from the Levant, where it is 

 in great favour with the Turks. The existing 

 varieties in this country are now mostly of 

 British origin. The properties of a fine 

 double ranunculus are, according to Glenny, 

 the following : — " The flower should be the 

 form of two-thirds of a ball, two inches in 

 diameter, and the upper part of it square or 

 horizontal. The outline of the bloom should 

 form a perfect circle. The petals should be 

 thick, smooth on the edges, and gently cupped ; 

 they should lie close, so that little but the 

 edges should be seen. The flower should be 

 symmetrical to the centre, which should be 

 close, so as perfectly to conceal the seed- 

 vessel. The colour should be very dense, 

 whatever be its hue. If an edged flower, the 

 edging should be well defined, and the marking 

 even and uniform. In no case should tlie 

 ground-colour break through the edging ; but 

 spotted flowers, with one spot on each petal, 

 are allowable. The stem should be strong, 

 and long enough to raise the flower clear six 

 inches above the foliage. Striped flowers are 

 not perfect, nor are flowers speckled at the 

 edges." 



G K 



The ranunculus requires a stronger and 

 moister suil than moHt other floweru. It is 

 generally sown in boxes, iu tho autumn or tho 

 spring ; and no florist's flower iu moro readily 

 propagatod from seed. 



TlIK ANKMONE. 



This beauty of tho flower garden comprises 

 two species, called tho Anomono llortensis, 

 from Italy, and tho Anemone Caronarics, from 

 tho Levant. In a double 8[)ecimen tho stem 

 should bo erect, strong, and not less than nine 

 inches high. The soil and culture are so similar 

 to those of the ranunculus, that it is unneces- 

 sary to specify them. 



THE NARCISSUS. 



This is an extensive genus, which rather 

 belongs to the botanico-florist than to the 

 florist proper. The polyanthus narcissus 

 gives the varieties principally cultivated by 

 florists ; and they succeed best in a rich, light 

 soil, containing a little dung. 



THE LILY 

 Of this flower there are numerous species ; 

 and the old "White Lily, after furui^liing tho 

 poets with so much imagery, has sunk into the 

 humble station of a modest border flower. 

 The Orange Lily, and the Lily Mortagan, may 

 follow its example ; but the Scarlet Turk's 

 Cap is worthy of more care, as being more 

 beautiful and more tender. The Tiger Lily— 

 a splendid specimen — flourishes best in a peaty 

 soil; and the same remark applies to the Lilyi 

 Canadeuse and Superbam, both of which aro 

 magnificent specimens. In tho Lily Japo- 

 nicum and Longiflorum, the genus attains its 

 greatest maguiticence ; but the climate of 

 Britain is unfavourable to them out-of-doors. 

 They must, therefore, be grown in pots under 

 glass. 



THE DAHLIA. 



This splendid flower is a native of Mexico, 

 and was, iu 1789, introduced into this country, 

 but was afterwards lost by our cultivators. 

 There are two species, the Dahlia Variabilis, 

 and the Dahlia Cocciiiea ; but tiie varieties 

 are endless. In 1801, it was re-introduced 

 to this country, and the results have been 

 very favourable to the flower garden, from the 



9bo 



