THE MANSE GARDEN. 239 



trowel and set them out, at wide intervals, along the 

 shrubbery or flower border. In rich earth, the giant 

 sunflower will cover a square yard, and bear twenty 

 or thirty heads of flower ; and thus early sown, such 

 as have the best exposure to the sun will perfectly 

 ripen their seeds. 



Sweet William, or Bearded Pink. Sow a good 

 breadth, and there will be a great variety of colours ; 

 some remarkably beautiful, the double purple and 

 rose-coloured varieties are valuable. When a good 

 sort occurs remove it from the rest and save its seed. 

 Though there be no rule as to seeds, yet the better 

 sorts give a better chance. A fine double plant need 

 not be lost for a long period, as it may be propagated 

 either by slips, layers, or offsets from the roots. 



Tulips. Of which there may be a thousand varie- 

 ties. The early sorts are little cultivated. One of 

 these, a distinct species, is sweet-scented and 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 the days, not 

 of finer flowers, but of 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 forming 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 bot- 

 tom of the cup, clear white or yellow, and free of 

 stain or tinge; and the various rich stripes, which 

 constitute the chief ornament, should be regular, 



