50 



THE FLO WEE GAEDE"N". 



a worthless scarcely-recognisable bloom. The most usual 

 causes of this phenomenon are, changes of climate, cul- 

 ture, or, above all, of soil, or even the accident of a cold 

 and wet spring. The next year's bloom will often appear 

 adorned with all its pristine beauty. Meanwhile, if it 

 balks your expectations, do not be discouraged ; the fit 

 will pass, and all will be right again. 



On cool reflection, and admitting all the floral preten- 

 sions of tulips, it must be granted that they have attained 

 a higher rank in the world of flowers than their intrinsic 

 beauty entitles them to claim, especially since the intro- 

 duction of numerous rivals from foreign lands. The 

 varieties of tulip (the choicest of which do not exceed 

 eight hundred in number) present much less striking 

 distinctions, both in colour and form, than those of many 

 other flowers, — for instance, of the hyacinth and the rose. 

 Certain varieties of florists' tulips are sweetly scented, — 

 a pleasing peculiarity, which deserves a greater measure 

 of favour than has hitherto been accorded to it. 



ZepliyrantJies Candida. — A small bulb, producing in 

 October a single flower, whose three interior lobes are 

 pure white, and the three exterior tinged with pink at 

 their tips. In a warm dry soil may remain out of doors 

 all the year round, only requiring to be taken up every 

 third or fourth year. Z. Atamasco is still handsomer 

 and equally hardy. Z. rosea is best cultivated in a 

 frame, in pots. 



TTTBEEOTJS A1ST) EHIZOMATOTTS FLOWEES. 



A tuber is a solid root, like those of the potato and 

 the dahlia. In some respects it is analogous to a bulb, 

 as having alternate periods of growth and rest, during 

 which latter it will exist independently of the soil, and 

 may be transported to long distances. It also contains 

 the nutriment of the future plant, as well as the germ 

 itself, which, however, is in a much more embryotic state 

 than in bulbs. A perfect bulb contains but a single lead- 

 ing germ ; a tuber has mostly several. A tuber is less 



