£96 HOKTlcrLTL'ltAL TOUR. 



young and in vigour, being only eight or nine years from' 

 the seed. If such a tulip have a strong tall stem, and large 

 petals, blunt or rounded at the end ; if it be self-coloured,, 

 or of one uniform equal colour on both sides of the petals ; 

 if the base be either pure white or bright yellow ; and the 

 anthers and stigma black or very dark, — it is accounted a 

 breeder of first-rate qualities. The bulb of such a breeder 

 is planted deeper than usual, in a very sheltered sunny 

 place, and the utmost care is taken to prevent its leaves 

 from being injured by wind or hail ; the stem is tied to a 

 stake, the flower is protected from the scorching rays of 

 the sun and from violent rain, and the perfecting of the 

 capsule is encouraged ; the seeds are carefully gathered 

 when ripe ; and from these seeds, in a course of years, 

 many fine variegated flowers are expected, partaking of 

 the fundamental good properties of the breeder. When 

 the self-colour of the petals of a breeder begins to break, 

 the bulb is regarded as past its highest vigour ; no j udi~ 

 cious florist, therefore, ever sows the seeds of variegated 

 or aged tulips ; on the contrary, the capsules of these are 

 cut off as soon as the flowers have wholly decayed, to 

 prevent an unnecessary expenditure of the juices of the 

 bulbs. All the spendid large tulips called by the Dutch 

 Primo Baguets (from the stems resembling baguettes or 

 little walking-sticks) have issued from one excellent breed- 

 er ; all those beautiful varieties called Baguets Rigauds 

 (perhaps rougeaudes) have also proceeded from one choice 

 breeder ; and in like manner, all the Verports or Incom- 

 parables are the offspring of one favourite parent plant. 

 What are called Bybherns (or next Jlowers) — the Fla- 

 mands of the French florists — are derived from diffe- 

 rent breeders, but all having a pure white base : of these 

 -tiore than 300 varieties are mentioned in the catalogues 



