BULBOUS AND TUBEROUS-ROOTED PLANTS. 63 



In some gardens in Holland they cultivate; by distinct 

 names, about eleven hundred varieties of Tulips, thirteen 

 hundred of Hyacinths, and six hundred of Ranunculuses 

 and Anemones, 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 

 $4000, refused for a single Hyacinth ; and Dodsley says, 

 in his Annual Register for 1765, that the Dutch of all 

 ranks, from the greatest to the meanest, during the years 

 from 1634 to 1637 inclusive, neglected their business to en- 

 gage in the Tulip trade. Accordingly in those days, the 

 Viceroy was sold for £250, the Admiral Lief keens £440, 

 and Semper Augustus at from £500 to £1000 each ; and 

 also that a collection of Tulips was sold by the executors of 

 one Wouter Broekholsmentser for £9000. 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 

 tuberous-rooted plants would occupy a number of pages, 

 without affording much general interest, I shall content 

 myself by devoting 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 be here necessary to define the difference between 

 bulbous and tuberous roots. Those designated bulbous, 

 have skins similar to Onions, or the Allium tribe; and tuber- 

 ous 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 a? 

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

 of too large a portion of sand, is likely to become violently 

 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 



