Remarks on the cuUivcUion of the Tulip. 195 



defeat the object they have in view — a fine bloom — as those 

 of huge size often produce imperfect flowers; while, if those 

 of moderate size had been selected, the bloom would have 

 been fine. The only safe guide, however, in the choice of 

 bulbs, is experience. 



CHARACTER OP A FINE TULIP. 



The properties of a fine variegated tulip, according to the 

 best modern florists, are thus described:— The stem should 

 be about thirty inches high, strong, and upright. The flow- 

 ers should be large, composed of six petals, proceeding a lit- 

 tle horizontally at first, and then turning upwards, so as to 

 form an almost perfect cup, with a round bottom rather wider 

 at the top. The three outer petals should be somewhat larger 

 than the three inner ones, and broader at the base; all the pet- 

 als should have the edges perfectly entire; the top of each 

 should be broad and well rounded; the ground color at the 

 bottom of the cup should be clear white or yellow, and the 

 various rich stripes, which form the principal ornament of a 

 fine flower, should be regular, bold, and distinct on the mar- 

 gin, and terminate in fine broken points, elegantly feaihered 

 and pencilled. The centre of the petal should contain one or 

 more bold blotches or stripes, intermixed with several portions 

 of the original color, abruptly broken into many irregular ob- 

 tuse points. Some florists are of opinion that the central 

 stripes or blotches do not contribute to the beauty of the tu- 

 lip, unless they be confined to a narrow stripe down the cen- 

 tre, and that they should be perfectly free from any remains 

 of the original color. It is certain that such flowers appear 

 very beautiful and delicate, especially when they have a regu- 

 lar narrow feathering at the edge; but it is unanimously agreed, 

 that the tulip should abound in rich coloring, distributed in a 

 distinct and regular manner throughout the flower, except in 

 the bottom of the cup, which ought indisputably to be of a 

 clear bright white or yellow, free from stain or tinge, in order 

 to constitute a perfect flower. 



SELECTION OF SORTS. 



I shall conclude my remarks by ofi:ering a selection of sorts 

 for a small bed, which may serve, in some degree, as a guide 

 to the amateur in his purchase of the bulbs, and their arrange- 

 ment in the bed. 



In the selection and arrangement of a bed of tulips the cul- 



