208 REMARKS ON A FIRST-RATE TULIT. 



flower retaining its shape. 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. I have here a sketch of the 

 shape. This form I consider best for retaining the beauty of the 

 flower in all its stages. It must be understood that I am now speak- 

 ing of a flower in full bloom, as the shape alters materially as it closes. 

 The petals ought to be level on the top, and not the inner three higher 

 than the outer, nor the outer ones turned back, which is the case in 

 some flowers, as Comte de Vergennes, and sometimes Louis XVIth. 

 When a flower has passed its prime it is not uncommon, I might 

 almost say general, for the three inner petals to become higher than 

 the others, which arises from the three outer being in the character 

 of the calyx, and the others the corolla. The colour of the ground 

 should be quite pure and rich, without stains or specks, whether white 

 or yellow, and the base of the petals around the stamina must be quite 

 clear of any stain or grease, otherwise it will have what we call a 

 dirty bottom, which every amateur dislikes, as nothing short of purity 

 there will satisfy him, it being impossible to remove that defect from 

 a broken flower, particularly if it should possess it when in a fine 

 state. It is also desirable that the yellow grounds should have the 

 same intensity of colour on the outside of the flower as on the ioside, 

 as some flowers being nearly white on the outside are rendered de- 

 fective by it and unfit for showing, certainly, where they show in 

 classes ; the Duke of Clarence is an example. 



The white grounds should have a thick, fleshy petal, and be quite 

 pure outside ; indeed it is desirable that all flowers should have a 

 thick, fleshy petal. 



Tricolors, I confess, I am not partial to, although some of them 

 are very handsome. 



The three principal classes of the florist's Tulip are the rose (red 

 and white) ; the byblomen (purple aud dark on white); and the bizarre 

 (various colours on yellow) ; in each class the colours should be well 

 defined and brilliant, and free from the breeder colour, and not liable 

 to flush, which is bad, particularly if it arises from a delicacy of the 

 vessels containing the colouring matter, as it then becomes a character 

 of the kind ; some sorts flush after they have been in flower a day or 

 two, as Malibran. The more general cause of flushing is the confiued 

 damp in the stages at night inducing the flowers to imbibe more 



