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Tulipa (To the species and varieties)

To the species and varieties described on pp. 104-8, the following should now be added:

T. Billietiana (Cardinal Billiet's). A variety of T. Didieri. T. Dideri Billietiana (Cardinal Billet's). fl., perianth wholly yellow, the outer segments acute, the inner ones rounded at apex. Switzerland, 1888. T. linifolia (Flax-leaved). fl., perianth of a brilliant vermilion-scarlet, nearly 2-1/2in. in diameter, with a black blotch in the centre; segments spreading, alternately obcordate and cuneate; anthers yellow; scape 6in. high. l. about three, lanceolate, gradually tapering, boat-shaped, the margins crenate, revolute, 1886. (R. G. 1235, d-f.) T. viridiflora (green-flowered). fl. pale yellow and green. An interesting plant, the origin of which is unknown-doubtless derived from T. Gesneriana, and flowering rather later than the type of that species. "Although it has no claim to beauty, it is of interest as being a possible progenitor of the far-famed Parrot Tulips of the present day" (D. Dewar). (Gn.xxxii. 514.) VARIETIES. These choice old garden flowers are now being inquired after by amateurs. Many persons in the South of England seem desirous of emulating those amateurs near Manchester and in the Midland Counties who have continued to cultivate this historical flower through a period of comparative neglect. An old author says: "The Tulip asketh a rich soil and the careful hand of the gardener." This is well known to those who grow flowers for exhibition purposes, and they are ever careful to trench the ground up well, to manure it sufficiently, and, above all, to protect the delicate blossoms from beating rains. Canvas shading of some kind, fixed on a frame-work, the roof portion to move up and down on rollers is usually adopted for this purpose. The florists' Tulips are divided into six classes, viz.) (I.) Feathered Bizzarres, (II.) Flamed Bizzares, (III). Feathered Bybloemens, (IV) Flamed Bybloemens, (V.) Feathered Roses, and (VI). Flamed Roses. The varieties are very numerous; in fact, there are many hundreds grown under different names in England and on the Continent. On the other hand, the number of really good flowers, correct in their markings, with stamens unstained, and pure in the base of the cup, scarcely exceeds six in each class. The best exhibition varieties are here given.

I. Feathered Bizarres. COMMANDER (Marsden), ground-colour full, deep yellow, with heavy, almost black feathering; the colour improves as the flower expands to its full size. DEMOSTHENES (Headly), ground-colour rich, bright yellow with reddish-brown feathering; it has usually a tinge of darker yellow round the base of the cup, which is a fault. GARIBALDI (Ashmole), ground-colour orange-yellow, with heavy, rich chestnut-brown feathering; very distinct. MASTERPIECE (Slater), pure gold ground-colour, with a beautifully worked, glossy, raven-black feather; a splendid feathered Tulip. SIR JOSEPH PAXTON (Willison), ground-colour pure, deep, rich yellow, with beautifully, pencilled, dark reddish brown feathering. WILLIAM WILSON (Hardy), ground-colour beautiful, clear lemon-yellow, with very bold and richly pencilled, black feathering.

II. Flamed Bizarres. It may be well to remark here that the same variety of Tulip is found both in the feathered and in the flamed state, and one variety may be more esteemed as a feathered flower, while another is at its best in the flamed state. AJAX (Hardy), ground-colour lemon-yellow, flamed rich claret; a very distinct and effective variety. DR. HARDY (Storer), ground-colour rich, deep orange, vividly flamed reddish-scarlet; very rarely found in the feathered state. ORION (Storer), ground-colour rich orange-red, with a scarlet tint in the flame; a variety of beautiful form and great substance of petal. SIR JOSEPH PAXTON, ground-colour rich, deep yellow, brilliant in flame of a rich, dark reddish-brown; the finest flamed Tulip. SURPASS POLYPHEMUS (Barlow), ground-colour lemon-yellow, with massive flame of glossy black; probably distinct from, and decidedly superior to, the old flamed POLYPHEMUS; its base and stamens are always pure. WILLIAM LEA (Storer), ground-colour clear, rich lemon, with nearly black flame; a distinct and constant flower, of medium size only.

III. Feathered Bybloemens. ADONIS (Headly), ground-colour white, not so clear as in some varieties, but with pretty, light feathering, nearly black; a fine flower. ALICE GRAY (Walker), ground-colour a good white, feathered deep lilac, with a bluish tinge; a rather scarce variety, as it seldom gives any increase. FRIAR TUCK (Slater), ground-colour very good white, with heavy feathering of pale purple; a large, bold flower. MARTIN'S 101, ground-colour pure white, beautifully feathered chocolate-purple; a long, narrow-petaled variety. MRS. COOPER (Boardman), ground-colour pure white, with a feathering of rich chocolate, deepening to black as the flower matures; the best in this class, and a model feathered Tulip. TALISMAN (Hardy), ground-colour pure white, with richly-pencilled, bluish-black feathering; this variety often changes from the feathered state to the flamed, and generally remains so. IV. Flamed Bybloemens. ADONIS, beam of the flame a rich, dark purple, with flashes of rich claret up the centre; a fine flower in the flamed state. BACCHUS, ground-colour good white, with lively purple flame; an old Dutch variety, never seen in the feathered state; very scarce, as it is slow of increase. CARBUNCLE (Headly), ground-colour good white, with rich, deep claret flame; a scarce and very beautiful variety, in the style of ADONIS. DAVID JACKSON (Jackson), ground-colour very pure white, with heavy flame of a decided black; a very distinct and handsome variety. DUCHESS OF SUTHERLAND (Walker), ground-colour pure white, with a clear, bold flame of light and dark purple; a long-petaled variety. TALISMAN (Hardy), ground-colour pure white, flamed purplish-black, a blue shade in the beam; the standard of excellence in this class.

V. Feathered Roses. ANNIE McGREGOR (Martin), ground-colour very pure white, with brilliant scarlet feathering; the brightest flower in this lovely class. CHARMER, ground-colour good white, with light rose feathering; the best feathered form of a variety known as MABEL. HEROINE, ground-colour very pure white, with deep rose feathering; petals rather too long, and the outer ones rather pointed; a very old variety. INDUSTRY (Lea), ground-colour very pure and beautiful white, with bright carmine-scarlet feathering, deeply and boldly pencilled. MODESTY (Walker), ground-colour good white, with bright, light scarlet feathering, beautifully pencilled; flower medium; this variety is worthless in a flamed state. NANNY GIBSON (Hepworth), ground-colour nearly pure white, but the base of the young flowers has a yellowish tinge; distinct and peculiar tint of vermilion-scarlet feather; a very scarce variety; it is not of much value in the flamed state.

VI. Flamed Roses. AGLAIA, ground-colour good white; flame dark crimson-scarlet, with beam of light rose-pink; petals long; a very old and constant variety. ANNIE McGREGOR (Martin), ground-colour and base pure white; flame intense scarlet, very bold; the best Flamed Rose. LUCRETIA (Syn. MADAME ST. ARNAUD) (Martin), ground-colour pure white, with bright scarlet flame. MABEL (Martin), finely flamed with scarlet and pink intermixed (MRS. LOMAX and PRETTY JANE are synonyms of this variety; they are merely different breaks from MABEL). MRS. LEA (Lea), ground-colour very pure white; extremely rare and distinct, and superior to all others in the rich blood-crimson flame; it is exquisite in the feathered state. TRIOMPHE ROYALE, ground-colour pure white, heavily flamed with dark crimson-scarlet; petals rather pointed; one of the oldest Tulips grown.

Single Early-flowering and Bedding Tulips. AMERICAN LAC, buff, with pale lilac and white feathering; novel and pretty. BIRD OF PARADISE, fine yellow, very large. BRIDE OF HAARLEM, carmine, with pure white feathering; very beautiful. DUCHESS OF PARMA, deep red, with deep orange-yellow border. GLADSTONE, carmine, large, well-formed. JAN LUIKEN, very pretty rosy-red, with yellow centre. JOOST VAN VONDEL, pure white; extra fine LAC BACKHUIS, lake, tipped white. LA GRANDEUR, vermilion; tall plant. MOUCHERON, crimson, large. OPHIR D'OR, deep yellow; very fine. QUEEN OF THE VIOLETS (Syn. PRESIDENT. LINCOLN), lilac-purple, flushed white at the margin. REM. BRANDT, rich crimson, large; early.

Double Early-flowering and Bedding Tulips. AGNES, bright crimson-scarlet, large; early. BLANC BORDE POURPRE, violet-purple, white margin. DUC DE BORDEUX, orange-scarlet and yellow; fine. EPAULETTE D'OR, scarlet, with showy, gold feather. MARIAGE DE MA FILLE, white and crimson feather; fine. ROSE BLANCHE, pure white; very fine. VUURBAAK, rich, brilliant scarlet; fine.