64 BULBOUS AND TUBEROUS-ROOTED PLAXTS. 



Ill some gardens in Holland they cultivate, by distict names, 

 about eleven hundred varieties of Tulips, thirteen hundred 

 of Hyacinths, and six hundred of Ranunculuses and Ane 

 mones, some of which are sold as high as sixty dollars the 

 single root. It is stated in the travels of Mr. Dutens, of his 

 having known ten thousand florins, equal to $4,000, refused 

 for a single Hyacinth ; and Dodsley says, in his Annual Regis- 

 ter for 1765, that the Dutch of all ranks, from the highest 

 to the lowest, during the years from 1634 to 1637 inclusive, 

 neglected their business to engage in the Tulip trade. Ac- 

 cordingly in those days, the Viceroy was sold for ^£250, the 

 Admiral Liefkeens for 66440, and the Semper Jlugusius at from 

 c£500 to ,^1,000 each ; and a collection of Tulips was sold by 

 the executors of one Wouter Broekholsmentser for 669,000. 

 It is stated that in one city in Holland, in the space of three 

 years, they had traded for a million sterling in Tulips. 



As a full catalogue of all the varieties of bulbous and tube- 

 rous-rooted plants would occupy a number of pages, without 

 affording much general interest, I shall content myself by de- 

 voting a short paragraph in describing some of each particular 

 species, which will be accompanied with directions for their 

 culture, in a brief, and, at the same time, explicit manner. 



It may here be necessary to define the difference between 

 bulbous and tuberous roots. Those designated bulbous have 

 skins similar to Onions, or the Jlllium tribe ; and tuberous roots 

 imply all such as produce tubers something similar to Potatoes. 



The soil for bulbous and tuberous roots in general should 

 be light, and yet capable of retaining moisture ; not such as 

 is liable to become bound up by heat, or that, in consequence 

 of foo large a portion of sand, is likely to become excessively 

 hot in summer; but a medium earth between the two ex- 

 tremes. As many city gardens do not contain a natural soil 

 of any depth, a suitable compost should be provided in such 

 cases, which may consist of equal parts of sand, loam, rotten 

 manure, mould, &:c. 



When ready, the beds may be laid out, from three to four 



