Most home gardeners are familiar with the fascinating story of the tulip mania which took place in llolland before the middle of the seventeenth century. The development of the classification of the tulip and the metamorphosis that has come about in methods of planting and arrangement were influenced by popular demand and the historical happenings stemming from this curious event.
Before the period of the tulip craze, growing these bulbs had no economic significance. There were a few growers in Holland who exchanged their specimens with tulip fanciers in France and England, in a way very similar to the methods employed by stamp collectors today. However, trading increased to such a pitch that from 1634 to 1637 it assumed the form of reckless gambling. Furthermore, it took an edict of the Netherlands Government to put an end to the dangerous orgy. The much sought-after tulips were mostly the so-called “broken” kinds like Semper Augustus (which figured prominently in the tulip mania). This variety was an appealing white form. covered with a fine striping of bright red.
Soon after the Napoleonic Wars, there was an economic revival in Europe which spurred on the small-scale trade that had developed in bulbs (luring the seventeenth century. Then, in Germany and Austria, it was discovered that the Due van Tol tulips could be forced into bloom. This practice helped to lengthen the flowering season and delighted the noblemen and merchants.
During the nineteenth century, tulip cultivation received its greatest, impetus because of several factors. Breeder tulips, formerly grown only for the broken farms that would appear, were introduced f3r garden use in 1837. During the latter years of the nineteenth century, the wide use of cottage and darwin tulips brought about other changes in garden design.
The present century has seen the increasing popularity of the early tulips, the introduction of hybrids of unusual species, and the fascinating parrots. With numerous kinds available. the concept of tulip culture has changed greatly. No longer is this flower regarded as short-lived; by carefully selecting varieties, it is possible to achieve from six to eight weeks of bloom.
Today growers still vie with one another. Spurred on by the many advances made (luring the enemy occupation of World War II, the persistent search to find varieties of more perfect form, shape and color still goes on among Holland bulb growers. They bid for the novelties, as in the early days. more soberly perhaps. but there is still considerable investment involved.
The development of a new variety is a long. expensive, painstaking process. Sometimes hybridizers make as many as 10,000 crosses in a season, from which one or two seedlings may be considered worthwhile. It takes seven years for the first tulip flower and at least another seven years before production is sufficient for export. In the case of the species tulips, growth is slower. As an interesting example, about four years ago I had the honor of having my own name bestowed upon a beautiful specimen. Within the four-year period, production has been slow and the price is still high Ñ $500 a bulb. I have been told.
The home gardener who is anxious to plan a colorful Spring garden with Fall-planted bulbs is naturally interested in what to plant and how to buy. He is eager to know what can be purchased that is novel, at moderate prices. And it is also natural for him to want such showy flowers to last as long as possible. The secret lies in his planting some bulbs of each of the readily available kinds that have different blooming spans and will produce sizeable flowers and stems long enough for cutting.
The arrival of the tulip season varies, of course, with the arrival of Spring, but, usually, the species tulips begin to flower the last week in March in the vicinity of New York City. There has been an awakening of interest in these dainty specimens, since the discovery of the hybrids.
For example, the Tulipa haufmauniana hybrids show remarkable improvement over the original form; The First, Cesar Franck and Fritz Kreisler are among the first to appear. They are particularly well adapted to the rock garden or, when planted along the front line of a bonier, act as trumpeters of the tulip season. The First is buff, nearly covered by a flush of deep carmine: Cesar Franck is warm scarlet, edged gold; Fritz Kreisler is cream color, delicately suffused with salmon-pink outside and strawberry tones inside at the base of the petals.
A bit later, but still early in April, the most spectacular of all the species tulips flower – the huge T. fosteriana hybrids. Red Emperor has gained tremendous attention, but Princeps is sometimes preferred for its dwarfer habit and later blooming period. Other species that are charming for special qualities include Tulipa clusiaua, known as the lady tulip, T. tarifa, bunch-flowered in white and canary yellow tints and the multicolored, orange-scarlet T. praestans Fusilier.
Singles and Early Doubles
Single and double early tulips also flower from the second to the fourth week of April. They may be used for bedding, at the front of shrub borders, or to brighten a low foundation planting. Among the singles, bright colors are outstanding. Sunburst and Prince Carnival, in red and yellow and the fragrant De Wet in deep orange are excellent examples Ñ vivid in flower, sturdy of stem and amazingly uniform. The double earlies, with their many petals, are most attractive in door yard plantings. Orange Nassau in blood red; Marechal Niel, yellow, flushed with orange; Peach Blossom, deep rose Ñ all are picturesque in small beds, or clumps in the border.
The double earlies are immediately followed by the peony-like flowered double late varieties also excellent for the forefront of the garden. Varieties that arc gradually becoming popular are: Eros in old rose, the pure white Mount Tacoma and Uncle Tom, deep maroon.
From the middle of April through the first week in May, varieties belonging to the mendel and triumph classes of tulips hold sway. These help to bridge the gap between the early and late types. Triumphs are medium in height, 14 to 22 inches, and their colors are generally hard and bright. Varieties edged with lighter colors, such as Aviator and Edith Eddy, deep. carmine-red edged white, are extremely beautiful. The new Bruno Walter in bronzy-orange with a purple shade outside is unique and one of the few fragrant tulips. Most mendel varieties are more suitable for indoor growing, but a few of the newer introductions deserve mention Ñ White Sail, creamy, passing to pure white and Orange Wonder in glowing red, edged orange.
The tall-stemmed, May-flowering tulips appear the first week of May and sometimes last through the first week in June. These are the most popular among American gardeners Ñ the breeders, stout mother bulbs in the art shades, such as bronzes and purples; the cottages with their long, egg-shaped flowers; the darwins, distinguished by their more or less square bases and white and blue centers. They cover the entire range of the tulip spectrum, all but blue, and their heights vary from 20 to 36 inches.
Mrs. John T. Scheepers
May-flowering tulips cover a wide blooming range with their early, medium and late-flowering varieties. The purple darwin, Demeter, the white cottage, Carrara, the salmon-scarlet darwin, Elizabeth Arden, and the pale-yellow darwin, Niphetos, are examples of early varieties. The chrome-yellow cottage, Mrs. John T. Scheepers (the largest hybrid tulip in cultivation), and the bronzy breeder, Penelope, are mid-season kinds. The deep-red darwin, Eclipse, and the deep-yellow darwin, Sunkist, are among the last to flower.
Breeder tulips are most effective for a background because they range in height from 22 to 36 inches. They have rich, dark colors and huge flowers – such as the improvements over Indian Chief, Chappaqua, Papago and others. The more recent Orange Delight in clear-bronze, flushed orange has notable lasting qualities.
Of medium height, the cottage tulips vary from 18 to 32 inches, and include many of the vivid colors of the single earlies. Ossi Oswalda is more fascinating as an example of a chameleon tulip. One of the newer cottages that is being used to good effect is Northern Queen. sometimes listed in catalogs as Queen of the North.
Often included in the cottage class, the lily-flowered tulips are most graceful with curved, pointed petals on their reflexing flowers. The color range is wide – from the pure white of The Bride, the light yellow of Alaska to the deep yellow of Golden Dutchess; from the pure rose of Gisela to the wine color of Captain Fryatt. The new scarlet Florestan resembles a poinsettia, and another recent introduction, Stanislaus, adds bright orange to the class.
The Striking Parrots
Darwins are those tall-stemmed beauties which climax the tulip season. A great acquisition to this group is the white Glacier, and the novelty, Smiling Queen, is probably the last word in pink darwins. According to some experts. Charles Needham surpasses all other starlets. The color range is complete with the near-black of Queen of Night.
In many sections parrot tulips flower at the same time as the May-flowering types, and they are causing unusual comments, particularly the newer varieties. Discovery, a beautiful rosy-pink, Blue Parrot, in bluish heliotrope and Orange Favorite, a fragrant type, have stronger stems and more brilliant color than older ones.
And so the tulipomania of the seventeenth century has developed into a more sober kind of speculation. Yet, the tulip industry is a gigantic business enterprise and, day by day, gardeners over the world are realizing that the tulip supplies a wealth of pleasure and unsurpassed beauty for the garden in Springtime.
by M Herbst – 61894
