44 BOOK OF OLD-FASHIONED FLOWERS 



apart, and from four to six inches deep, according to the 

 size of the bulb and the lightness of the soil. Where 

 all the varieties are beautiful it seems hopeless to select. 

 To a beginner, perhaps, the following list may be of some 

 help : — Poeticus-ornatus, Obvallaris, Emperor, Leedsii 

 Minnie-Hulme, Empress, Golden Spur and Grandee ; to 

 which should be added the sweet Campernelle Jonquil. 



For naturalising in grass, the poet's and star narcissi, 

 as well as some of the trumpet daffodils, are particularly 

 suited. 



In the whole history of the craft, few things have 

 occurred so calculated to throw ridicule on gardening 

 and gardeners as the celebrated outbreak of Tulipomania 

 in the seventeenth century, though at times the con- 

 temporary Daffodilmania threatens to rival it. The 

 Tulip was introduced into England towards the end 

 of the sixteenth century, and but half a century later 

 Parkinson describes a hundred and forty varieties. Apart 

 from the various species which the florist has not as yet 

 seriously taken in hand, the bulk of the tulips commonly 

 grown in gardens are of two great classes, the short 

 stalked April-flowering tulips which are descended from 

 T. suavolens, and the taller May flowering descendants 

 of T, Gesneriana which are known as Florist's Tulips." 

 These garden varieties are of every shade of colour and 

 do well in any rich well-drained garden soil. It is 

 advisable to lift them every year, or in light soils every 

 three years, as otherwise they tend to become crowded 

 and poor. The bulbs should be planted in October, 

 about four inches deep and four inches apart, and, like 

 all other bulbs, if grown for decorative effect, should 

 have the earth between them carpeted with some dwarf 

 surface-rooting plants as elsewhere suggested. Far 

 better for ordinary garden decoration than any of the 

 florists' striped or feathered varieties is the parent of the 

 race, the brilliant red or crimson Gesner's tuHp. Its 



