THE TULIP. 13 



large cities. In New York alone upward of five hundred 

 thousand bulbs are used during the winter, and the 

 number is rapidly increasing each year. The flower 

 spikes average four cents each at wholesale. By a suc- 

 cession of plantings in boxes six inches deep, beginning 

 in September, they are had in flower from November till 

 May, and even later. The method pursued is similar to 

 that for the Lily of the Valley. (See Lily of the Valley, 

 (Convallaria,) where the method is described.) 



THE TULIP, (Tulipa.) 



TULIPS are divided into several classes, and of these 

 we shall speak in the order of their flowering. . The 

 single and double varieties of the Due van Thol, of which 

 the type is Tulipa suaveolens, (from the Latin suavis, 

 sweet,) are the earliest and most suitable for pot culture 

 or forcing. If, in autumn, they are planted singly in 

 four-inch pots of light, rich soil, they will flower extremely 

 well in an ordinary room, and contrast finely with Hya- 

 cinths in glasses. The culture is the same as for Hya- 

 cinths. They will flower in water like the Hyacinth, but 

 with less certainjy and less luxuriance ; hence they are 

 better grown in pots of soil. The Due van Thol was 

 introduced into English gardens from the South of 

 Europe in 1603. 



The Single Early Tulip, (Tulipa Gesneriana^} the 

 parent of our ordinary garden varieties, is a native of 

 Asia Minor, the Caucasus, Calabria, and Central Italy. 

 Conrad Gesner, a Swiss naturalist, in whose honor it 

 was named, first made it known by a description and 

 drawing in April, 1559. Of this class of Early Single 

 Tulips there is almost an endless variety. They have 



