56 CURSORY REMARKS ON THE TULIP. 



the catalogues of the south country dealers, and are put down at 

 good prices, which would he perfectly useless here for planting in 

 the bed of a competitor, and which they would never think of pur- 

 chasing. Docs this not prove that the florists in the South at least 

 ijrow middling tulips in their collections as well as ourselves ? But 

 perhaps they grow them for sale, and not for competition ; as Paddy 

 carried his razors, " to sell and not to share." 



That the greatest credit is due to many gentlemen in the South for 

 the many new and valuable tulips which they have raised in late 

 years, every devoted tulip fancier will feel pleasure in admitting ; 

 but that they are superior to many of the older varieties which are 

 still favourites in the North, I have yet to learn. Even Everard, in 

 Mr. Slater's opinion (sec his article, p. 52), " would not be saleable 

 here, although it possesses every requisite save one, and that is the 

 marking." Now, if this flower would not beat the finest old kind 

 grown in the North, I would not like to give Mr. Glenny £1 for his 

 seven bulbs, instead of £140. 



I cannot help thinking that much misunderstanding exists between 

 the northern and southern florists respecting the properties of the tulip ; 

 and it is chiefly for the purpose of obtaining accurate descriptive c&ta- 

 logues from various societies that I have trespassed upon your pages 

 with this lengthy article. If room could be obtained in the pages of 

 the Cabinet for a descriptive catalogue of about forty of the best 

 varieties cultivated in each of the principal societies in England, then 

 we should be able to judge what sorts would really suit us, and what 

 sort of tastes prevailed in the different localities. Purchasers would 

 then know the exact properties of each flower in repute, and could 

 order accordingly. 



The difference of opinion respecting the necessary qualifications to 

 constitute a perfect floicer seems to me more imaginary than real. 

 I do not exactly understand Mr. Slater (p. 53), when he says, " the 

 northern florists appreciate all the properties save one, and that is 

 the marking. But instead of those irregular blotches, they require a 

 feathered flower, to be beautifully pencilled all round the petal, 

 without the least break in the feathering, so as to show the ground 

 colour: and any mark or blotch except the feathering is considered 

 a fault," &c. Now I would infer from this quotation, that marks 

 and blotches more than the feathering are allowed in the South on 



