BRIEF REMARKS. 85 



Tulip ; and in a communication in the Midland Florist lie remarks on 

 the judging of Tulips, that he found it a matter of great difficulty to 

 properly judge those Tulips which had stained bottoms, narroio petals, 

 and stained stamens. He proceeds: — " This, to me, has been a very 

 great difficulty, as, where marking has been strictly adhered to, many 

 a fine Tulip has been put aside, because another has been marked in a 

 superior manner ; and it has engrossed my attention for years how to 

 divide the properties so that each may have a fair chance. 



" It is well known that in many localities stained bottoms and long 

 cups have frequently obtained nearly the whole of the prizes, as the 

 poverty of the exhibitors would not allow them to purchase those of 

 modern introduction. The disqualifying of stained stamens, in some parts 

 of England, is what I cannot approve, as the stains frequently arise 

 from various causes. I have known instances when the stamens have 

 been perfectly clean at opening, and as the mass of colouring has risen, 

 they have become discoloured. This, I have no doubt, arises from a 

 superabundance of colouring matter, as in flowers very clean the 

 stamens are perfectly pure. There is also another point of importance, 

 that is, the base of a bizarre often, as it ages, becomes a greenish- 

 yellow. This is particularly the case with Polyphemus. Now I wish 

 to give all flowers a chance, and I cannot see how this is to be done 

 unless the Tulip is divided into many points. It must not be supposed 

 that I am an admirer of dirty Tulips ; far from it — 1 like purity in 

 every respect; but if accidental or natural causes produce these defects, 

 let every allowance consistent with a due regard for those properties 

 which add so much to the beauties of the flower be made. 



" The result of my deliberations has been to divide the properties of 

 the Tulip into twenty-four parts, as follows : — 



6 points for form. 

 G , , clean stamens. 

 6 , , clean bottom. 



G , , marking. 



" The defects of the Tulip as follows :— 



6 points to be deducted for bad form. 

 6 , , , , bad bottom. 



6 , , , , stained stamens. 



G , 5 , , narrow petals. 



6 , , , , long cup. 



6 , , , , cloudy bottom. 



" Bjr adhering to these properties, a Tulip having bad cup, bottom, 

 and stained stamens, will, if the petals are not narrow, have eighteen 

 points to gain in marking; but if narrow petals are added to the above, 

 it will, of course, be disqualified altogether. This will be better illus- 

 trated by the following details. Suppose a Tulip have good form, pure 

 bottom, and clean stamens, the result will be as follows: — f 



G points gained for form. 

 G , , bottom. 



G , , stamens. 



