NEW ZEALAND GARDENING. 139 



Tulips. Florists call Tulips seedlings until they have 

 bloomed ; after this those preserved on account of their 

 good form and habit, as well as the offsets they produce, are 

 called breeders. After some years the petals of these become 

 striped, and they are then said to be broken. If the striping 

 is good, they are said to have a good strain ; if it be inferior, 

 they are described as having a bad strain, A rectified Tulip 

 is synonymous with a Tulip having a good strain. A feathered 

 Tulip has a dark coloured edge round its petals, gradually 

 becoming lighter on the margin next the centre of the petal ; 

 the feathering is said to be light, if narrow ; heavy, if broad; 

 and irregular, if its inner edge has a broken outline. A 

 flamed Tulip is one that has a dark-pointed spot, somewhat 

 in shape like the flame of a candle, in the centre of each 

 petal. Sometimes a Tulip is both feathered and flamed, A 

 Bizarre Tulip has a yellow ground, and coloured marks on 

 its petals. A Babylamen is white, marked with black, or 

 lilac, or purple. A Rose is white with marks of crimson, 

 pink, or scarlet. 



Characteristics of a Show Tulip. i. The cup when fully 

 expanded should form, as nearly as possible, half a hollow 

 ball. The petals, six in number, must be broad at the ends, 

 smooth at the edges, and the divisions where the petals 

 meet scarcely showing an indentation. 2. The three inner 

 petals should set close to the three outer ones, and the 

 whole should be broad enough to allow of the fullest expan- 

 sion without quartering (as it is called), that is, exhibiting 

 any vacancy between the petals. 3. The petals should be thick, 

 smooth, and stiff, and keep their form well. 4. The ground 

 colour* should be clear and distinct, whether white or yellow. 

 The least stain, even at the lower end of the petal, would 

 render a Tulip comparatively valueless. 5. Whatever be the 

 colours or marks upon a Tulip, all the petals should be 

 marked alike, and be perfectly uniform. 6. The feathered 

 flowers should have an even, close feathering all round, and 

 whether the feathering be narrow or wide, light or heavy, it 

 should reach far enough round the petals to form, when they 

 are expanded, an unbroken edging all round. 7. If the 

 flower have any marking besides the feathering at the edge, 



'Ground colour is that upon which the other colours are laid. 



