The native American., 1838-04-07

vile treaty with him, until the noxiOus reptile had
acquitted his engagement; the spoil was then
claimed and surrendered" L..
NOTICE ON THE CULTURE OF TULIPS
BY M. TRIPET, SIR.
Translated from the French, for the Nutiue .American.
The brief reflections which am about to make
public, are the results of my own experience, and
that of my father; that is to say, of an experience
of rs years. During the course of this long
study, we have tested all the improvements, tried
all kinds Of culture: l have borrowed from the
Belgian and Dutch hortculmrists processes which
have produced them beautiful collections. In a
word, | have endeavored to become acquainted
with every thing which can add to the perfection
of branch of gardening to which have conse-
Grated all my leisure moments, often also my
pose, and which has repaid my care with pure
enjoyments.
l should not have dreamed of publishing the
following pages, had not have been solicited by
many distinguished amateurs who thought, on
seeing my collection of Tulips, that | might say
something new and useful on the subject. | ac-
cede to their invitation through Difference and also
in the hope that this essay will induce those who
are the most familiar with this branch of horticul-
ture to publish, their part, the result of their
experience.
TULIP OF GEsNER OR FLORISTS.
This beautiful flower, which is at present the
most magnificent ornament of our gardens, and
which by the richness of its numerous varieties
claims the first rank in the collection of amateurs,
merits detailed treatise Let us consecrate some
lines to its history before describing its specific
character, and speaking of its cultivation, &c.
i. HISTORY OF THE TULIP.
The Tulip seems to have been unknown to
a. - - r
lit is under names and characters which allow
OF doubt whether they were ever acquainted with
lit. Nothing can be discovered in Pliny which re-
ates to it, and if Gesner suspected that it might
be the Satyrion Erithonium of the Greeks, or
the Aneuione Linoma of Theophorstus if Ban
her thought also he recognized it in the Pytho-
MIA of this last named author, they have based
their conjectures on grounds so vague that they
have not ventured to propose them with any GER
tanty. Thus, even up to the thirteenth century,
this superb flower, although cultivated in Europe
under the name of Tulipan account Of its resem-
blance with the bonnets of the Dalmatons, a name
from which proceeds that which it bears at the
present day, had not as yet attracted the attention
of any Botanist 1t is to Conrad Gesner to whom
we its first delineation and description which
appeared in the work of Vaierus Cordus, publish
| ed in $50.
Whatever may be the difference of opinion
among authors relative to the places from whence
the Tulip takes its origin: though some would
have it to come from the confines Of China others
from the plains of Tartary, where it is known un-
der the name of "Sale;'' though others in fine
pretend that the Portuguese brought it to Holland
from the Indies; still all opinions unite in making
1t indigenous to Asia, where it remained for long
period, neglected and without name. According
to the most probable opinion, it came amongst us
from the Oriental provinces adjacent to Europe.
In fact Gesner brought from Constantinople in
1859, the species which bears his name. Later,
in 1875, Jacques de L'Eclnse, learned Botanist,
received at Vienna, from Angierus Busbecque, Am
bassador to Turkey, some grains of the Tulip
which he carried to Belgium, and from which,
SIX years afterwards, he obtained flowers of va
rious kinds. The first cultivated in France were
carried thther from Tournay. Wighem sent
some roots to the celebrated Pieresc, who having
planted them in 1910 in his garden at AK, had
flowers from them the succeeding spring.
The Tulip once known, how could It fail from
making enthusiasts 1t became from the begin
ming of its appearance, a source Of competition
among amateurs; it was struggle who should
multiply most its varieties, which every day pro-
duced with new tints and differently combined.
Each one endeavored by care and expense to
possess flowers superior in beauty, and fancied
himself well paid for all his pains when single
tulip was blown, which in point of form and color,
might defy any thing in the possession Of his
rivals.
In the Seventeenth century, the passion for
Tulips among the Belgian and Dutch Amateurs,
became real mania. They acquired according
to them fictitious value, which introduced them
soon into commerce in exchange for large sums
OF money or for immoveable objects of great
price. 1t was not matter, of rare occurrence to
see asingle root valued atmany thousands francs,
and the extensive traffic which was carried on in
1887, amounted to many millions; this mania
making every day fresh progress, the General
Assembly of Holland, convinced of the damage
which resulted, in consequence, to commerce and
families, was compelled to interfere, and passed.
laws OF great rigor to arrest transactions of the
kind AT the tme-of this efTervescence, propertv
OF considerable value was exchanged for single
flower. The Brewery of Silbe estimated at 80. 900
francs, which its owner gave up for one root alone
is cited as striking monument of this follv.
If Bourgeois is to be credited, there is no ma
ton which carries the love of Tulips further than
the Turks. Among this voluptuous people, they
not only