66o 



THE TULIP-CRAZE OF HOLLAND. 



over one-third are pure labruscas, nearly one-third are 

 hybrids, about one-fifteenth are aestivalis and one-fifteenth 

 riparia, the remainder being of unknown origin. Of the 

 hybrids, over half contain foreign blood. It is interest- 

 ing to note in the lists which I have before me that four- 

 fifths of our standard market grapes belong to the pure la- 

 brusca class and that there is not one market hybrid 

 which is known to be a primary hybrid. 



"It is impossible to draw many definite conclusions 

 from the present state of our viticulture as to the most 

 promising means of improving our grapes, but it appears 

 safe to say that satisfactory results are not to be expected, 

 as a rule, from primary hybridizations, and that a con- 

 siderable attenuation of the specific blood in one or both 

 parents is essential to the best results ; that while most 

 of the former attempts to introduce vinifera blood have 

 been only partially successful, there is every promise of 

 satisfactory results in the future by using hybrids which 

 are already in existence ; that crossing between different 

 pure stocks, or varieties of the same native species, gives 

 promise of excellent results; and that the employment 

 of the most profitable and virile stocks, either as parents 

 of pure seedlings or as parties to hybridization, as the 

 Concord, is one of the first requisites of success." 



SOME POINTS IN GRAPE-GROWING. 



George C. Snow, of Pen Yan, spoke upon various 

 points concerning marketing and the management of 

 vineyards. As the grape is essentially a dessert-fruit, it 

 is imperative that the fruit be packed honestly and 



neatly for market. Especially avoid shipping soiled or 

 dirty grapes, for if the fruit needs to be washed the con- 

 sumer patronizes another grower in his next purchase. 

 The dirt often comes from the baskets. All cobwebs and 

 dust should be taken from baskets before packing. 

 Store the baskets bottom-side up to avoid dust. Use 

 only the brightest packages. Bleached-wood baskets, 

 holding five and nine pounds, are probably the best. 

 These should be stored in a dark place to keep them 

 white. Mr. Snow thinks that a spring-crate holding 

 from four to six baskets will eventually be used. 



As a general thing, summer pruning and pinching, 

 beyond breaking out superfluous canes, is not advisable, 

 because not necessary. Pinching-in the ends of canes 

 causes a lateral growth, which is not desirable. 



Nowadays we must leave rather more foliage than we 

 need, in order to provide for the losses occasioned by 

 fungi, which, even when vineyards are sprayed, often 

 curtail the leaf surface considerably. All summer prun- 

 ing and thinning should be done very early ; late pruning 

 is always useless. 



Mr. Snow emphasized the importance of looking after 

 varieties with native parentage, and said that, in his ex- 

 perience, those which contain European blood are not 

 trustworthy. Soil, location and exposure are important 

 factors in the vineyard, and it is not true that "any good 

 corn-land is good grape-land." The importance of 

 thorough spraying was also emphasized. Profitable 

 grape-culture now demands it. 



Cornell University. E. G. Lodeman. 



THE TULIP-CRAZE OF HOLLAND. 



LOWERS and plants have long served 

 as the emblems of nations, families, 

 and even individuals ; they have en- 

 twined our history, linking to it many 

 beautiful legends and myths, besides 

 some interesting events that have ac- 

 tually occurred. Thus we have grad- 

 ually associated the lotus with Egypt, the stately palm 

 with Judea, the olive and laurel with Greece and Rome. 

 The rose reminds us of England, and the thistle and lily 

 recall exciting incidents which made them the national 

 emblems of Scotland and France respectively. Yet, 

 among all the plants which have gained place in history, 

 only one ever threatened the prosperity of a nation. 



If we could have walked through the streets of Am- 

 sterdan, Holland, in the spring of 1634, we should have 

 seen in gardens surrounding the palaces of the nobility 

 immense beds of tulips. On the broad window-sills and 

 numerous balconies of the citizens' massive, old-fashioned 

 houses the showy flowers were to be found ; and if we 

 could have turned into the byways and lanes, still the 

 little Persian plant would have looked at us from the 

 windows. Tulips grew in gold and silver pots, in tins, 

 and even in old wooden shoes ; for in this year the people 

 of Holland were seized with a craze such as the world 



had never seen before. " All Holland," says one writer, 

 "was but an immense tulip-bed. Rich and poor, young 

 and old, all were eager to obtain costly bulbs. Men sold 

 their possessions and invested everything in the plant. 

 No family was too poor to have its flower. Tulip-fairs 

 were held and prizes offered for the best specimens, 

 which afterward sold for wonderful prices. One famous 

 bulb, the 'Semper Augustus,' sold for /400, a carriage 

 and two horses ; another, the 'Csesar,' for^i,200." 



Comical stories concerning this craze are not lacking. 

 One is told of a northern sailor who returned from a long 

 voyage just when the craze was at its height. Passing 

 into a' merchant's counting-house, he saw on a table a 

 valuable tulip-bulb, which he supposed was an onion. 

 Thinking how well it would season some herring which 

 he had bought for his dinner, he quietly slipped it into 

 his pocket, and went away rejoicing. His joy did not last 

 long, however. The owner soon discovered his loss, and 

 quickly traced the theft to the sailor, for whom he imme- 

 diately instituted a search. The sailor was at last discov- 

 ered, just as he was finishing his dinner of mild-flavored 

 onion and herring. It was a royal feast, but the poor 

 sailor had to spend six months in jail to pay for it. 



Within a few weeks after the mania broke out, and 

 when it was evident that it was increasing instead of 



