GARDEN TULIP. 73 



" The three exterior petals should be rather 

 larger than the three interior ones, and broader 

 at their base ; all the petals should have per- 

 fectly entire edges, free from notch or serra- 

 ture ; the top of each should be broad and well 

 rounded : the ground colour of the flower at 

 the bottom of the cup should be clear white 

 or yellow ; and the various rich coloured stripes, 

 which are the principal ornament of a fine tulip, 

 should be regular, bold, and distinct on the 

 margin, and terminate in fine broken points, 

 elegantly feathered or pencilled. 



" The centre of each petal should contain one 

 or more bold blotches or stripes, intermixed with 

 small portions of the original or breeder colour, 

 abruptly broken into many irregular obtuse 

 points. Some florists are of the opinion, that 

 the central stripes or blotches do not contribute 

 to the beauty and elegance of the tulip, unless 

 confined to a narrow stripe, exactly down the 

 centre, and that they should be perfectly free 

 from any remains of the original or breeder 

 colour : it is certain that such appear very beau- 



