The Coolidge examiner., 1934-03-16


~ UTCH bulb growers have en-
listed the aid Of the Meth
~ erlands government in their
industry.
Tulip growing once became a
mania In some portions OF the Meth.
erlands. More has been written
about that chapter In Dutch his
tory. In fact, than its Importance
warrants: but IL Is interesting be-
cause the mania began at a time
when the Dutch government was
engaged in naval expeditions TO ac-
quire territory. and taxes were SO
high as TO be almost uncomfortable.
That the sober Dutch should lose
their heads over a flower at such
time is a phenomenon that speaks
highly OF the fascination Of the tu-
lip.
Stald burghers abandoned ordl-
nary business to engage In the tu.
lip trade. and a period OF gambling
began that could not result In any
thing but financial ruin for the par
Elephants. The mania started In
France In 1886 and quickly shifted
10 the Netherlands.
Once the gambling was under
way. the plants about which IL
swlrled became mere symbols. All
trade was for tulips "in the onion. :"
Buyers would contract for "fu-
lures" risking enormous sums on
the expected products OF beds new
ly planted. A bulb OF the admiral
Liefkens" sold for more than 1000
fiorlns-the equivalent probably on
current exchange OF nearly 300
guIneas. The "Semper Augustus, :"
which had not increased rapidly
since It's Introduction In 1923. was
exceedingly scarce. and a single
plant brought $500 forms. worth
at the time about $40 pounds ster-
ling.
Queer bargains were made. an
example that seems particularly
ridiculous being the exchange Of
one bulb for n load OF grain. four
fat oxen, twelve sheep. FIVE pigs,
two barrels OF butter. 1000 pounds
OF cheese. four barrels of beer, two
hogsheads OF wine. a bedstead with
fits furnishings. a suit OF clothes.
a silver drinking cupl At the be-
ginning OF the mania the buyers
were real tulip fanciers who COW
eted the flowers. but these soon
were shouldered out Of the bidding
by professional market operators
who bought In lots and held for a
rise. One successful broker made
00.0O0 forms profit I'm four months.
Stole His Friends Rare Tulips.
That Dumas picture OF Isaac
Boxters Vaccinations against his
rival tulip grower is at least
not impossible is proved by his
toric incident. certain burgo-
master OF Holland used his friends
influence to obtain for a friend
political post OF some Importance.
Upon the friends offering to make
return for the favor. the burgomas-
ter refused reward and asked mere
ly to be invited TO see the ap-
polntee's tulip garden. The invita-
tion was forthcoming at once, and
the visit was made.
A few months later the appolntee
returned the burgomaster's visit.
He went into his benefactor's gar
den and saw there a rare tulip
which had been taken surreptitious-
ly from his own. SO furious was
he at this discovery that he re-
signed his appointment, sold his es-
tate and left the country.
With nothing of real value to
support the trade. the mania rose
TO absurd intensity. Traders gath
cred at inns and marked bids on
wooden plates. A bulb would be
mentioned, and prospective pur-
chaser would jot down on his plate
a tentative offer. The holder OF the
bulb would write down a much-in-
fiated price. While the dickering
was In progress, a small percent
age of the amount in question would
be set aside as wine money" and
the dealer would put this up in
cash. When a price was reached
that both buyer and seller would
check on their plates, the sale was
proclaimed; but no money beyond
the wine fund changed hands In
the inn. Profits and losses were
wholly ION paper"
On April 81, 1886, a proclamation
of the states of Holland put an
end to the wild speculation by rem
dering invalid all contracts In con-
nection with tulips. Confusion re-
suited. Bulbs which had been
bought for more than 5000 forms
were sold for so In the wholesale
liquidation many traders were
ruined.
Despite all this furor the tulip
fanciers, who had retired early
from the market lists and were