DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE OF TULIPS. 24? 



bulbs for 50/. after it had been broken three years, although it was 

 well known that Mr. Clarke and his friends had roots in their pos- 

 session. This variety has been for years cried up in the South as 

 one of the finest Bizarres cultivated. It is a question with many 

 florists whether it deserves the character bestowed upon it. In the 

 first p] ace its stamens or filaments are stained, which, if we may 

 credit the southern florists, would condemn any pair when staged for 

 competition, and the yellow outside a pale straw colour. Here I 

 would ask, how is it that a Tulip slightly tinged like Polyphemus 

 and Osiris should be rejected by them if raised in the north, whilst 

 those of their own raising are tolerated and even allowed to win ? 

 Having thus introduced the stained bottoms, I must say that when 

 in London two years ago, I was rather surprised to see so many of 

 this description in their collections. But there must be a motive for 

 all this, or else why the numerous attacks upon their brethren in 

 the north every month. It is not at all to their credit that there is 

 not a more kindly feeling towards them. We are all labourers in 

 the same field, and I hope to see a little more of that Christian maxim 

 in their conduct, " Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself," than 

 at present. I have thus digressed to write the sentiments of my 

 brethren here ; not with any ill feeling, but only to remind them that 

 we have never attempted to retaliate when we have had so many 

 opportunities of doing so justly. Polyphemus has a good cup, yellow 

 bottom, tinged stamens, a good yellow inside, and pale straw colour 

 outside, is a good stage flower. This variety has several names, of 

 which Reis Effendi is said to be one. 



POMPE FUNEBRE 



Is a third row flamed Bizarre, cup rather long, bottom pure, and the 

 outside colour a bright lemon colour, and its broad and almost black 

 feathering causes it to rank higher than any other of the same class. 

 It is rather a late variety, and being a shy breeder is also scarce. It 

 appears from the extracts from Tulip catalogues by Mr. Groom in his 

 lecture, that there was a new variety introduced in 1780, which was 

 Bold at 51. bs., whilst the old one was selling at 8/. 8>\ I this year 

 broke a breeder from a celebrated grower, which was far different 

 from one I had from Haarlem, which was considered the crack root 

 there, and I think it must be a new one. Its cup was considerably 



