TULIP. 89 



like the skin on bis back, and remains with him the rest of 

 his life." He instances a Mr. Davey, of Chelsea, as being 

 in his seventy-fifth year, and in whose breast the fancy for 

 Tulips was so predominant, that in the autumn of 1832, ho 

 was induced to j^art with a hundred sovereigns for one sin- 

 gle Tulip, named " Miss Fanny Kemble." Perhaps a better 

 definition of what constitutes the properties of a good Tulip, 

 could not be given than a description of this " precious gem, 

 or loveliest of all Tulips ;" but, lest my readers should con- 

 clude that the old man was in his dotage, I would inform 

 them that this favourite bulb was purchased of the executors 

 of the late Mr. Clarke, with whom it originated, and that it 

 had not only been the pet of its owner, but had excited the 

 envy and admiration of all the amateurs who went to view it. 



" This precious gem, a bybloemen Tulip, was raised from 

 one of Mr. Clarke's seedling breeders, and broke into colour 

 three years ago ; it has produced two offsets since, and is 

 adapted to the second or third row in the bed ; the stem is 

 firm and elastic ; the foliage full and broad, of a lively green ; 

 the cup large, and of the finest form ; the white pure and 

 wholly free from stain ; the pencilling on the petals is beau- 

 tifully marked with black or dark purple, and the feathering 

 uniform and elegant ; it preserves its shape to the last, the 

 outer leaves not sinking from the inner ; in a word, it is con- 

 sidered the first flower of its cast, and the best that has ever 

 been produced in England." 



The article in the work already alluded to, on the culti 

 vation of Tulips alone, occupies ninety-six pages ; I, there- 

 fore, cannot attempt any thing more than an abridgement of 

 the author's ideas on some important points. Those of my 

 readers who may desire full information, are referred to the 

 work itself, which may be obtained of Mr. G. C. Thorburn. 



The following description may serve to govern the choice 

 of amateurs. Tulips exhibited at the show are, in general, 

 classed and distinguished as follows: Flamed Bizarre y 

 Feathered Bizarres, Flamed Bybloemens, Feathered Bybloe- 



8* 



