DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE OF TULIPS. 147 



smooth on the edge, and sufficiently broad to allow of the edges lying 

 on each other when fully expanded, by which all quartering or open- 

 ing between the petals will be avoided, this being a great fault. They 

 should also possess considerable firmness, (or rather thick and fleshy,) 

 with a little swell toward the lower part of the petals, which will give 

 the flower a good shoulder, as it is termed, and prevent its losing its 

 form. The bottom of the cup should be without stain or tinge ; in a 

 Bizarre, a good yellow, and a Rose or Byblomen white, the filaments 

 and anthers should be bold. Next comes the shape of the cup, on 

 which so much difference of opinion exists." Mr. Groom says, the 

 shape of the cup, when fully expanded, should be a semi-oblate 

 spheroid, the stalk being inserted in the pole, which pole should be a 

 little depressed ; this he considers the best form to retain the beauty 

 of the flower during all its stages. In form, I [must beg leave to 

 differ from Mr. Groom and Mr. Glenny, as not one Tulip in 200 

 come up to their standard even of the new varieties raised. If a 

 circle were drawn and divided into eight parts, and taking full five- 

 eighths of the diameter for the cup will give the most perfect form. 

 In support of this opinion, I have scaled several drawings, as well 

 as tulips, which appear to me to be the most unique in their pro- 

 portions, and I find the greater part exceed six-eighths of the 

 diameter : Mr. Groom's Prince Albert, Bizarre, is six-eighths ; his 

 Byblomen "Victoria Regina and Polyphemus also are six-eighths. 

 This appears to be the true standard, for it is allowed by all that 

 Polyphemus cannot be excelled as respects form. Having laid down 

 a standard as respects form, I next proceed to describe a feather flower ; 

 and as Mr. Groom's remarks on this point are in'unison with my own, 

 I shall use his words : " I consider a fine rich sharp feather, as it is 

 termed, commencing on the edge of the lower part of the petals, a short 

 distance from the stamina, and continuing round the top where it 

 should be deepest to the other side, with each petal alike, and leaving 

 the remainder of the flower of the clear ground colour, without any 

 spots or specks, as the most perfect and beautiful character. It is to 

 be regretted that this is not particularly insisted upon in the south ; 

 were it so, there would not be so many complaints as to the flowers 

 introduced by them. 



A flamed flower should have, in addition to the feather, a rich 

 solid beam up the pit of each petal, branching or rather pencilling 



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