VISITS TO NURSERIES. 
39 
very considerable breadth in the open ^^ir is also covered with full 
blown tulips ; and it is scarcely possible to imagine a finer sight 
than these ; for, though almost all their beauty is the work of art, 
they are so disposed, that the whole appears to be the simple result 
of nature. In all the almost countless array, w r e did not observe 
a single bad or degenerated flower, nor one which in ordinary 
collections would not be reckoned a beauty. 
Now, considering the many points which are essential to a first- 
rate tulip, such as the proportion of the stem and cup, so that 
the plant may neither seem dwarfed or lanky ; the purity of the 
colours, and the force and harmony of their blending; the sym¬ 
metrical form of the cup ; the breaking of the colours on the proper 
part of the petals ; the shape of the feather, and the perfect purity 
of the bottom of the cup,—considering these and others, and the 
numerous shades of perfection of which they all admit,—bearing 
in mind that each and all of them must be diligently worked for, 
not casually found out,—and remembering also that one element of 
admiration is the labour which the thing admired costs us,—we 
must admit that the breeding of a perfect tulip is a work of much 
skill and attention, and may cease to wonder that tulip fanciers 
should often pay very high prices for favourite flowers. 
And it is well for the floricultural art, the general distribution 
of flowers, and all the good effects with which the love and culture 
of them is attended, that there are those who are able and willing- 
O 
to pay these high prices. The study, the labour, and the cost of 
obtaining an extensive and fine collection, are more than those 
who have not examined the subject would be apt to suppose ; and 
were it not for the encouragement given by wealthy purchasers, 
the profession could not exist; and there would be no fine flowers 
except such as were cooped up in the private gardens of a few 
amateurs ; but, in consequence of this encouragement, the very 
finest varieties soon find their way to the public generally at a 
very moderate cost. The fashionable will have novelty as well as 
beauty, and this keeps the professional florist on the alert for 
something new ; while the old varieties, often equally beautiful, 
get into the possession of the public generally. Thus, while the 
wealthy are patronizing the professional florist, they are taking 
the sure means of distributing beauty over the gardens of cottagers, 
and inspiring those cottagers with all the beneficial moral effects 
' which the love of beauty so certainly produces. These remarks 
