1884.] 
the AMERICAN GARDEN. 
sand), and at tUo bottom of oacli bniK, < • 
domiuponitolosoly. Dig tho holes with a 
small trowel, and pvoss down the soil well 
When the ground is frozen solid, spread 
over the beds a layer of fo«r |,o five inches 
f “oarse stable litter. 
Tins will keep the gromul from alternately 
Ireozing and thawing, whiel, is so apt to kiil 
H .0 bulbs When lirst planted, a tip Iw- 
ing-half an inch or more-of sand will 
help to draw the heat of tho sun in early 
spring. When a part of tho strawy covering 
is removed, which should be done as soon as 
the tops of tho 
sheathed leaves 
are seen, press the 
soil closely round 
each bulb, to pre¬ 
vent tho cold 
night air from in¬ 
juring the flower, 
and in a fortnight 
or so take off all 
the winter cover¬ 
ings, and soon the 
flowers will ap¬ 
pear. 
In the choice of 
bulbs, select those 
which are firm and 
solid at the base 
of the root. For 
outdoor culture, 
the double varie¬ 
ties are the most 
showy, as their 
flowers will form 
an uj)right cone 
of perfect beauty. 
Also due heed 
should be given to 
their height of 
stem and flower 
and their time of 
blossoming. The 
early varieties of 
tall growth should 
fill the center of a 
bed to be edged 
with Crocus and 
Snow-drops, and 
the spaces can be 
filledin with other 
kinds of low early 
bulbs. Some 
thought should be 
given to the ming¬ 
ling of the shades 
—dark and light 
blue, porcelain, 
and white, and of 
the shades red, 
carmine, rose, and 
blush; also of the 
tints of yellow and cream coloi’. A bed of 
Hyacinths makes one of the rarest of flower 
shows in spring-time, and seems an almost 
indispensable adjunct to every real flower 
garden. 
THE TULIP. 
This “Fop of Flowers,” as it lias been 
correctly styled, is truly a gorgeous addition 
to the flower beds, and so easily are ey 
raised that clumps, clusters, or whole beds 
of them, should be planted this mont or 
next; and then one can patiently 
the time when a blaze of glory will at lae 
every passer-by, as well as fully [repay o 
211 
one’s self all the care and expense in tJieir 
gorgeous brilliancy. They are natives of 
lorsia, and called Tulip, from iHlipan, a 
turban, which tho calyx of the flower re¬ 
sembles. The Turks brought tho bulbs from 
thence, and sent sotno of them to Vienna, 
whore they worn cooked like Onions, and not 
luoving palatable, wore then preserved in 
sugar ; but not being a success as conipoteu, 
the remainder wore thrown upon a compost 
heap, whore they grow and bloomed in per¬ 
fect beauty. Tho Swiss botanist, Conrad 
Oeuiier, did not sco tho Tulip until 15.^0, 
and as ho described it scientifically, lAnnwm, 
many yeai’s after, gave it tho speoifle name 
of Gesneriana, in honor of the botanist 
Gesner. 
The Tulip mania of the seventeenth ceu- 
tiu'y, doubtless, all ovir readers are familiar 
with, as it belongs to the Mistorij of Holland, 
having commenced there, but its influences 
wore transplanted to England and France, 
and had not oui- mother country been en¬ 
gaged in civil war, the speculations might 
have been as ruinous there as among the 
Dutch. It proceeded, however, from the love 
of gambling, far more than the love of flow¬ 
ers, and Tulip bulbs were sold on time, as 
stocks are at the exchange, and those that 
were short were as badly shorn as are the 
“lambs of Wall street.” But the Dutch 
amatem' florists loved their bulbs as much 
as rosarians now love their Roses, and the 
poet Crabbe wrote of them: 
“With all bis phlegm. It broke a Dutobman’s 
heart. 
At a vast price, with one loved root to part.” 
Tulips are divided into three classes, viz.: 
Jloues, Jiyhlomenu, and Bimrres. The Itoses 
have rich crimson, cherry, pink, and scarlet 
stripes and veinings on a pure white gi-ound; 
they grow eighteen inches high and have 
large, well-formed cups. The ByUomens are 
marked with black, lilac, and purple stripes 
and veins on a white gi-ound; while the 
Bigarren have a yellow gi-ound, feathered and 
veined with scarlet, pink, purple, lilac-crim¬ 
son, rose, and cherry. These classes are 
again divided into flamed and feathered, 
striped and veined Tulips, until their number 
is multitudinous. A feathered Tulip has a 
d a r k - e o 1 0 r e d 
center, shading 
lighter toward its 
edges. 
Besides these 
there are the 
dwarf Due Van 
Th 0 1 varieties, 
which bloom the 
earliest and will 
make lovely beds 
of flowers,mingled 
with Hyacinths, 
Crocus, and Snow¬ 
drops. The Tour- 
nesol varieties 
bloom next to the 
Van Thols, and 
the two kinds, 
when planted to¬ 
gether, will make 
a goi-geous bed in 
spring. The 
Double Tulips and 
the Parrot Tulips 
come next in or¬ 
der, the latter 
being the most 
unique of all the 
varieties, the 
edges of their pe¬ 
tals being fringed 
like fringed Pe¬ 
tunias. These two 
kinds can be 
mingled in a bed, 
which will prove 
extremely brill¬ 
iant; or, if planted 
around low Ever- 
gi-eens, in a circle 
or in groups, they 
will show to great advantage. 
Sandy loam from sheep or cow pastm’es is 
excellent for the growth of these bulbs. Re¬ 
move the sods from old pastures and dig up 
wheel-ban-ow loads of the fresh soil; or pre¬ 
pare a bed as dii-eeted for Hyacinths. Rich 
garden soil, mixed with very old manure and 
sand, will grow the Tulip in its perfect 
beauty, but fresh compost fi’om the cow-yard 
or stable would bmm up the bulbs. Plant 
them early in the season, and set them from 
three to four inches in depth, and four inches 
apart. Put a little sand at the base of each 
bulb, and scatter sand all over the bed, and 
protect like other bulbs, with leaves or straw 
compost. After flowering let the leaves dry 
up, then cut them off. Every three years 
take up all the bulbs and remake the bed, or 
plant them in another place. 
Crocus, Daflodils, and Lily of the Valley re¬ 
quire similar treatment, and are all needed 
to make up a complete spring garden. 
Daisy Eyebright. 
CHRYSANTHEMUMS. 
