The Canadian Horticui-iukist. 



307 



^.^^1?^^'^^ • 



THE TULIP. 



^^ ¥ all the bulbs for spring flowering there is none more charming than the 

 well-arranged bed of tulips of contrasting colors. There are now hun- 

 dreds of varieties which can be purchased for very little money — 

 quite a different state of affairs from that which existed some years 

 ago, when there was a wide-spread tulip mania and the prices rose 

 so high that none but the rich could afford to purchase bulbs. The 

 following account of that mania is given by Lindley & Moore : " In 

 the middle of the seventeenth century, tulips became a large trade, such as is 

 not to be met with again in the history of commerce, 

 and by which their prices rose above that of the most 

 precious metnls. It is a mistake, however, to suppose, 

 that the high prices paid for bulbs, 

 amounting in some instances, to 

 2500 and 4600 florins, represent- 

 ed the estimated value of the root, 

 since these large sums often 

 changed hands without any trans- 

 fer of property. Bulbs were sold, 

 often without being seen. In 

 fact, they were the subject of a 

 speculation not unlike that of rail- 

 way scrip in this country, at no 

 very distant date. Tulips should 

 be planted in the month of Octo- 

 ber, about three or four inches deep and about six inches apart. In buying, 

 it would be wise to vi ^ habit of growth. Of 



double varieties 



Fig. 78. 

 Single Tulip. 



Fig. 79. 

 Due Von Tiiol Tulip. 



select varieties which 

 will afford a succes- 

 sion of bloom and 

 those which flower al 

 the same time, should 

 be planted together. 

 Single and double 

 tulips are both de- 

 sirable, but, of the 

 two, the single is pre- 

 ferred as most beau- 

 tiful. Fig. 78. One 

 of the best early, sin- 

 gle varieties is Due 

 VanThol, (Fig. 79.) 

 which may be had in 

 a variety of colors,and 

 has a neat dwarf 



Fui. 80. — Pakkot Tulip. 



which succeed, Van- 

 Thol, La Candeur, 

 White and Yellow 

 Rose are varieties 

 highly recommended 

 by Mr. Rexford. The 

 Parrot tulips (Fig. 80) 

 are very effective if 

 planted in groups 

 with shrubbery, or 

 along the border of 

 walks. The flowers 

 are large, brilliantly 

 colored and often 

 they are fringed or 

 twisted in an inter- 

 esting manner. 



