JULY. 193 



THE TULIP. 



Our readers are doubtless aware that the annual meeting of the 

 National Tulip Society was held in London this spring, a detailed 

 report of which will ])e found in another page. Our present 

 illustration was selected from the successful flowers exhibited on 

 the occasion in question, and was admitted by all the growers 

 present to be a noble addition, as well as by far the finest of the 

 new varieties. It deservedly received the highest award the 

 Society ofi'ered for seedlings. Feathered flowers of any class are 

 much desired, but when we get a feathered bizarre, with the 

 bright richness of the yellow, as faithfully shown in the represen- 

 tation, combined with the dense feathering of deep red which this 

 flower possesses, it is indeed a great acquisition. In addition to 

 these good qualities, it is a full-sized flower of the finest form. 

 George Hayward was raised from a Polyphemus breeder, 

 fertilised with Pompe Funebre, the seed of which was sown 

 eight years ago. It was broken for the first time in 1853 ; six 

 breeders and four broken flowers comprised the whole stock ; of 

 the latter, two are feathered and two are flamed. It was raised 

 by Mr. R. J. Lawrence, of Hampton, Middlesex, who has long 

 been known, not only as possessing one of the finest collections of 

 Tulips in this country, but also as one of our most successful 

 raisers. What Tulip grower is there that does not possess and 

 admire that beautiful old flower, Lawrence's Polyphemus, with 

 its score of aliases ? A finer flower of its class, old as it is, cannot 

 easily be met with. This is only one of a large number of esta- 

 blished favourites that have been produced at this well-known 

 locality for good Tulips. 



It was the opinion of many, a few years since, that the culti- 

 vation of the Tulip was declining ; it may have been so in some 

 localities, but we do not hesitate to state that it is o-peatly in- 

 creasing at the present time, and when we recollect the great 

 beauty and variety displayed in a well arranged bed of Tulips, 

 producing an eff'ect which all must admire, we should certainly 

 feel greatly surprised if such was not the case. 



NEW SERIES, VOL. IV. NO. XLIII. 



