374 GENERAL REVIEW. 



seminal forms of Gesner's Tulips, but they possess the advan- 

 tages of earliness and perfume. There is a wide field for the 

 intelligent skill of the hybridiser in this genus, but in order to 

 effect some startling changes we must cross distinct species 

 with the finest of existing varieties, or, better still, with other 

 species possessing distinct and desirable characteristics. T. 

 Cclsiana crossed with T. sylvestris might, as suggested by M. 

 Lecoq, give some charming yellow-flowered hybrids; or by 

 raising seminal forms or hybrids from T. cornnta, we might 

 obtain some elegant flowers a distinct race of long, narrow- 

 petalled flowers, which would be valuable for decorative pur- 

 poses, and somewhat analogous to the Japanese race of Chry- 

 santhemum. The two or three species having a yellow-edged 

 blotch on their petals, of which the spotted-leaved T. Greigii 

 (Caucasus) (see ' Bot. Mag.,' t. 6177) is the type, might also 

 furnish a race if intercrossed either with themselves or with 

 other species or varieties. The species of Tulip do not receive 

 that cultural attention in our gardens which they deserve. 

 Nearly all the species supply pollen copiously and seed freely. 

 Gather the seed just before the pods burst, and hang them in 

 a cool dry shed until the spring (February), when sow in boxes 

 or pans of light rich soil in a gentle heat. Plant out the seed- 

 lings in June in prepared beds of rich well-drained soil, where 

 they can remain until they bloom. The Dutch florists raise 

 hundreds of seedling Tulips annually, but, singularly enough, 

 they keep plodding on with the forms of T. Gesneriana and 

 T. suaveolens, instead of cross-breeding with some of the other 

 distinct species, so as to originate new and more beautiful 

 races. 



Tulipa sylvestris -is figured in the 'Bot. Mag.,' t. 1202; T. 

 stellata, t. 2762; T. stiaveolens, t. 839; and T. Breyuiana, t. 

 717. The last is a Cape species, introduced in 1787. 



Tulipa Clusiana (see ' Bot. Mag.,' t. 1390) is an old, slender- 

 growing, white-flowered species, the outer segments being 

 feathered with purple behind, and the flower is improved by a 

 deep-purple eye. Native of Sicily. 



Yucca. A very distinct and beautiful genus of hardy and 

 half-hardy evergreen caulescent Lilyworts, principally from the 

 N. and S. American states. They rarely produce perfect seed 

 in this country, but imported seeds germinate freely in a genial 

 bottom-heat, after which they should be hardened off and 

 planted out in nursery beds when sufficiently advanced in size. 

 Seeds germinate in a few weeks after they are sown, but the 

 young plants are of rather slow growth. The caulescent species 

 may be multiplied by dividing the stem so as to retain a latent 



