THE FLORIST'S TULIP. 



109 



Where, in any Breeder Tulip, the base and the breeder colour 

 both belong to the same rectified ground colour — say white — 

 their influences are not in opposition when the flower breaks. 

 It is not then the scene of a battlefield between white and 

 yellow, but of a peaceful meeting between two of white-base 

 blood, and the union may be strength. 



We see the marks of conflict when these two powers are 

 different, but not when their respective action tends one way. 



In the way of tricolor Breeders, I have seen every combina- 

 tion but one — that of a white-base Breeder with a true Bizarre 

 body colour. If this be a universal exception it is curious. 



It is easily seen to which class a Breeder Tulip belongs 

 " Kose " Breeders have a white base, with a pink or scarlet 

 shade of ground or body colour. " Bybloemen " Breeders have 

 also a white base, but their ground colour is some tone of lilac, 

 slaty blue, or violet. ''Bizarre" Breeders have a yellow base 

 and a ground of bright or dull red, brownish red, or yellowish 

 brown. 



The origin of " strains " in Tulips is worth brief mention. 

 Strains originate from the different styles in which each separate 

 bulb of a variety will break. When any bulb rectifies or 

 " breaks," all the offsets formed that year take identically the 

 same rectified character, and perpetuate that strain. However 

 many strains may arise, they can only honestly go by the name 

 of the Breeder they broke from. That received its varietal 

 name from the raiser of it, and that is the only true name for 

 all its subsequent stock, whether feathered, flamed, or Breeder 

 still. It is from violations of this necessary rule that some of 

 our Tulips have aliases — confusing, and perhaps criminal, in their 

 way — arising from breaks of the same Breeder variety being 

 named after the fancy of those who obtained them. 



There is not time left now for cultural details here, not even 

 if I gave them in telegraphic brevity. I fear also lest they would 

 be of but limited interest, because comparatively few are the 

 growers now. 



Probably the counties of York, and Lancaster, and Notts con 

 tain the greater part of us ; and there are some scattered growers 

 ardent, successful, and florist-hearted, such as Mr. James 

 Thurstan at Cardiff, Mr. David Barber near Nottingham, Mr. 

 Haynes in the Midlands, and Mr. James Douglas in Essex, and 



