1869.] JOTTINGS ON THE TULIP. 63 



may be, and though scentless, unlike the Eose and the Violet, yet 

 the beautiful touches and stripes he beholds in his feathers and 

 flames sufficiently compensate, in his estimation, for this lacking 

 virtue. In his humble opinion, it is "a thing of beauty, and a joy 

 for ever." Though less rare and expensive than they were two 

 hundred years ago, a good bed of Tulips cannot be, in the present 

 day, collected together for a moderate sum, when the finest strains 

 and the newest varieties are expected to be found there. Still, a ten- 

 pound note, judiciously laid out, will insure a fine display ; leaving it 

 to the "old dons," who are bent on winning the silver cup at their 

 next meeting, to spend their five guineas on the latest new one to 

 make sure of success, which even then may not be realised ; for too 

 frequently do we see the prize finding its way into the hands of the 

 careful and watchful grower, rather than into those where " money is 

 no object." 



To look at the prices asked and given for Tulips within the last 

 thirty years, the five-guinea outlay is, by comparison, a very modest 

 sum. Groom of Walworth catalogued some of his choicest and rarest 

 varieties, within my own recollection, at extraordinary sums. For 

 instance, Victoria Eegina, a feathered Bybloemen, figured at £100, 

 Nourri EfFendi, a flamed Bizarre, at even a larger sum; and now 

 these scarcely occupy a place on the bed — Nourri EiFendi, we believe, 

 proving synonymous with Polyphemus, and Victoria Eegina being far 

 too tender and truant even to obtain one fine bloom in a dozen. The 

 finest bloom of this variety we ever had the pleasure of beholding, 

 was in the flamed state in two instances in the same year, side by 

 side, and very grand specimens they both certainly were : I thought 

 myself extremely fortunate in securing one of them ; but, alas for 

 the fickleness of the whole tribe ! it proved anything but an ornament 

 on my own bed. I could not but grieve to see such a transition from 

 good to bad ; but it did not prove my first or last disappointment, 

 neither did it regain its fine qualifications. Polyphemus may be taken 

 as the type of a fine Tulip in its exquisite cup, even which Glenny 

 condemns as being too long. This fine Bizarre, some sixty years ago, 

 was purchased for the respectable sum of £50; and Mr Clarke of Croy- 

 don, the celebrated grower, grew a variety called " Fanny Kemble," 

 a flamed Bybloemen, which, at his death, was sold for a sum over 

 £70. This variety is rarely seen on a bed, consequently its repu- 

 tation cannot be of the highest order ; and I think I might venture 

 to affirm that Brown's Salvator Eosa would be found more than its 

 equal. A finer marked flower can scarcely be mentioned than the 

 latter, or a more constant variety, when a fine strain has been insured. 

 I may say that my Salvator has cost me twice five guineas, were I to 



