34 FLOWERS AND FRUITS. 



bed. The flower should be large and composed of six petals ; 

 these should proceed a little horizontally 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 rather 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 color 

 at the bottom of the cup, clear white or yellow, and the various 

 rich colored stripes, its principal ornament, regular, bold, distinct 

 on the margin, and terminating in fine broken points, elegantly 

 feathered or pencilled. The centre of each leaf or petal, should 

 contain one or more bold blotches or stripes, intermixed with small 

 portions of the original, or breeder color, 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 it should be perfectly free from any 

 remains of the original or breeder color; it is certain that such 

 appear very beautiful and delicate, especially when they have a 

 regular, narrow feathering at the edge ; but the greatest connois- 

 seurs in this flower, unanimously agree that it denotes superior merit, 

 when the Tulip abounds with rich coloring, distributed in a distinct 

 and regular manner throughout the flower, except in the bottom of 

 the cup, which it cannot be disputed should be a clear, bright white 

 or yellow, free from stain or tinge, in order to constitute a perfect 

 flower. Tulip bulbs should be so allotted in grounds, as to embellish 

 those spots which are most deficient in flowers, at the season of 

 their blooming, which is confined to the months of May and June. 

 With the Persians it emblematizes a DECLARATION OF LOVE. 

 Chardin tells us, that when the young turbaned swains present a 

 Tulip to their mistress, it is their intention to convey the idea that 

 like this flower, they have a counteuance all on fire, and a heart 

 reduced to a coal. 



