The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-04-24

| They VIII Blossom In Splendid Masses OF
Color Next Spring-Holland and the Tu-
lip Craze of the Seventeenth Century
Fabulous Prices for q Single Bulb.
Nearly ninety thousand tulip bulbs
slumber in the rich loan that consti-
tutes the great flower beds dotting the
parks and public squares Of this city,
says the New York Star. They arc safe
enough from any frost that ever visits
this latitude, and they are sure to peep
above the ground with the earliest hint
of spring, and to flame into splendid
color before the month of May. Last
years designs will be repeated in this
years tulip beds. In the circular bed
at the corner of Fifth avenue
and Fifty-ninth street the tulips will
blossom in eccentric circles, each of
different color. At the corner of
Eighth avenue and Fifty-ninth street
will glow great Japanese bird kite,
Respondent with red, white and yellow
tulips. There will be, also, splendid
beds near the Arsenal in Central Park,
in Tompkins square, near Clarcmont, in
the City Hall Park, and at several
other points.
1t is peculiarly appropriate that the
most magnificent show of tulips to be
seen anywhere in America should be
made in this city, for the town was set
tied by Dutchmen just at time when
Holland was in the midst of
the tulip craze. Holland has never
entirely recovered from that craze,
and the finest tulips in the
world are now raised in the
sandy soil behind the Dutch dykes,
while New York imports her tulip buds
from the home of her earliest ancestors.
But the present interest in tulips among
Dutchmen is nothing to the rage that
reached its widest extremes in the
years between 1884 and 1887. The mod
ern craze for orchids is mild in COMPARE
son to this Dutch 'tulipmania," as it
has been lcarnedly called. The passion
was confined to no one class of the COM
munity. 1t spread through every rank
of life. Poor mechanics raised in their
tiny gardens marvellous blossoms, while
the rich spent fortunes upon few
dozen bulbs. For three years every
body talked tulips Each spring found
thousands eagerly watchful of the tulip
beds. Books were written upon tulips.
The habits of the flower were deeply
studied. There were all sorts of de-
vices for Fastening the blooming of tho
plants and prolonging the life of the
blossom. Loving friends presented to
one another tulips as the most precious
of gifts. Acres upon acres of sandy
lowlands were Respondent with these
marvellous "bubbles of blood"
Of course the craze developed an
eager money-malsing spirit. Prices
were Observation-Disclosures. A single
fine tulip bulb fetched $4,000 forms, or
more than SIS, 900, and three of them
fetched as high as $4,000 forms.
Sometimes one bulb would be
owned by u dozen persons. Then
came dealing in futures. Men con
tracted to furnish, at future time
bulbs not yet in existence. Many more
bulbs were sold each year than were
ever grown In any one season. Every
body bought tulips, and many specu-
lators got rich. Others, however, were
ruined. Tulips were quoted as stocks
and wheat are quoted now. New vari.
cites were constantly announced. Men
Travelled many miles to look at single
blossom. Artists took up the matter
and to-day you may sec scores of tulir
pictures painted when the craze was al
its height.
The tulip craze gradually spread all
over Europe, though nowhere was it sc
severe as in Holland. 1t was specially
marked in Great Britain. There was
much religious persecution in Europe
during the latter half of the seven
teenth century, and many refugees fled
to liberal little Holland. They caught
the tulip fever, and when some thou
sands of them went to England from
Holland they carried it to Great Britain.
Even yet the finest British tulips arc
grown by mechanics, the descendants
of those refugees.
Holland is long past her tulip craze,
but she remains the great fower-grow-
ing country of Europe. Even yet fine
varieties of tulips are quoted in Dutch
catalogues at from twenty-five to one
hundred and fifty forins. Hyacinths
are also grown to great perfection, and
sold at high prices. The light sandy
soil of Holland Is peculiarly well suited
to the tulip. The plant is probably OF
Asiatic origin, but it has been brought
to its highest perfection III Holland
and especially about HARLEM. The
Dutch tulip raiscrs protect their beds
in spring with hoops and mats.
READS UPSIDE, DOWN.