266 TULIP. 



known by the name of van-thol. It flowers in 

 April. Bulbs of the late kind are to be had at 

 all prices, from five shillings per hundred to five 

 guineas per bulb. Prices have been infinitely 

 higher in these days, not of finer flowers, but tulip 

 mania. The properties of a fine tulip are, a strong 

 stem two feet high, the flower large, with six petals 

 opening at the base almost horizontally, and form- 

 ing a cup only a little wider at the brim than at 

 the bottom ; the three outer petals broader at the 

 base than the three inner ones ; all the petals entire 

 at the edges, broad at the top and well rounded; 

 the ground colour at the bottom of the cup, clear 

 white or yellow, and free of stain or tinge; and the 

 various rich stripes, which constitnte the chief or- 

 nament, should be regular, bold, and distinct on the 

 margin, terminating in broken points elegantly 

 feathered or pencilled. It is remarkable, that in 

 Turkey and Persia, of which countries the tulip is 

 a native, the flower is principally of a red colour, 

 whilst each petal has a black spot at the bottom, 

 and that this is nearly the description of the worst 

 appearance which, according to florists, a tulip can 

 present; from which it may be judged what culti- 

 vation can do; for there can be no doubt, that 

 without ever having seen any of the technical rules, 

 the most inexperienced eye would prefer the finer 

 tulips now reared to those blackhearted natives of 

 the East. If the soil be moderately rich, no manure 

 should be added; if too poor, only old compost should 

 be applied; for any sort of rank and recent dung 



