86 CARE OF CHOICE BULBS. [April. 
erected, it requires to be kept on only from nine to three 
o'clock in sunshiny days, and during nights or time of rain, 
allowing the awning on the most northern side to come close 
to the ground, when necessary, to shelter them from cold, 
cutting winds. 
The properties of a good Hyacinth are, namely — the stem 
strong and erect, the florets or bells occupying one-half of 
the stem, each floret suspended by a short strong footstalk, 
longest at the bottom ; the uppermost floret quite erect, so 
that the whole may form a pyramid. Each floret well filled 
with petals rising toward the centre, that it may appear to 
the eye a little convex. Regarding colour, fancy does not 
agree, and the most scrupulous cultivators differ materially. 
However, the more pure and bright the finer, or a white 
with a pink centre, or the centre of the petals with a paler 
or deeper colour appearing striped, which is considered to 
have a good effect. 
Tulips in every respect should have the same care and 
protection, never neglecting to have the beds with a smooth 
clean surface, and the stems neatly tied up, although they 
are not in so much danger as Hyacinths. 
The characters of a good Tulip are — the stem strong, 
elastic, and erect, about two feet high ; the flower large and 
composed of six petals, proceeding a little horizontally at 
first, and then turning upward, forming a flat-bottomed cup, 
rather widest at the top ; the three exterior petals should be 
larger than the three interior ones, and broader at their 
base; the edges of the petals entire, free from notch or rug- 
gedness ; the top of each well rounded. The colour of the 
flower at the bottom of the cup ought to be pure white, or 
yellow, and the rich-coloured stripes, which are the principal 
ornament, should be pure, bold, regular, and distinct on the 
margin, and terminate in fine points elegantly pencilled. 
The centre of each petal should have one bold stripe, or 
blotch, of rich colouring. The ground colours that are most 
esteemed are white, the purer- the finer ; or, on the other 
hand, the dark grounds, and of course the darker the better; 
but these vary in estimation, according to the prevailing taste 
of amateurs. 
