103 



EVERY W03IAN HER OWN FLOWER GARDENER. 



ulators in railways, to the scientific engineers who planned and con- 

 structed them. 



The high esteem in which the Dutch held the flower, doubtless sowed 

 the seeds of the disease ; but the immense prices given for single roots, 

 had no reference to their floral value. It was the love of gambling, and 

 not the love of flowers, which created them. Speculators bought or sold, 

 tulip roots at a certain price, to be delivered at a specified time, just as the 

 frequenters of the stock exchange speculate by time bargains in stock: 

 Thus the tulip king of the era would possess himself of a certain variety 

 of Tulip, and then ofier to purchase more; other dealers, supposing they 

 could procure them easily, would undertake to deliver a certain quan- 

 tity at such a time, at an agreed price ; that variety vf ould rise in value, 

 and so the artful speculator could obtain almost any price he pleased for 

 his roots, purchased at a low price. 



"Bulls," "bears," "ducks," "gulls" and other like animals, well 

 known to those who frequent the stock markets, are not a modern 

 invention; but centuries ago existed in Holland and France. The 

 Dutch amateurs loved their Tulip roots as they loved their own houses 

 and lands, and Crabbe tells us that: — 



" With all his phlegm, it broke a Dutchman's heart, 

 At a vast price, with one loved root to part." 



Some individuals gave all they possessed for the coveted bulbs, and 

 we read that one root was exchanged for four fat oxen. 



In England, as late as 1835, a root named " Fanny Kemble" sold at 

 iauction for $225. 



Tulips do not bloom quickly from the seed ; five years at least must 

 elapse before "the bright, consummate flower" appears, and its bloom is 

 usually a self, or mere ground color, and is termed a breeder ; but in a 

 tew years the calyx will become variegated, and it is termed Irohen ; so 

 when a really choice variety is produced, its annual off*sets is its only 

 means of propagation, and it must command a high price for some years. 



The late variety of Tulip mostly cultivated is T. Gesneriana, and is 

 divided into three classes, viz. :— roses, byblomens, and bizarres. The 

 "roses" are marked with cherry, scarlet, pink and crimson stripes or 

 Veins, on a white ground. They are usually eighteen inches high, and 

 their cups are large and well formed. The " byblomens " are marked 

 with black, lilac or purple, on a white ground; and the "bizarres" are 

 feathered with purple, pink, cherry, scarlet, etc.^ on a yellow ground. 



