BARR’S “ ENGUISH TULIPS.” 
breaking upwards into marvellous featherings and flamings of colour, reminding one of the contrast 
between the dull cocoon and the brilliant, fluttering butterfly. The new shades are not the vagaries of a 
day, bir, once the flower breaks into its radiant colours, they remain to dazzle and delight those who see 
them. The ** breeder,” that is, the self-coloured Tulip in its first stage is, so to apeak, but the canvas 
prepared for the painting, and when in due course the colours arc mixed and the picture completed, if is 
one that will not fade under the band of time. 
Bizarres are distinguished by a yellow groundwork, the flowers flamed or feathered with many hues, 
and inside the base presents a stainless circle of gold. George Hayward is a splendid example of a grand 
variety, and near it is Victor Emmanuel, having a beautiful rounded petal and a perfect base. Sir J . 
1* ax' ton, recognisable by its perfect cup shape, is represented by several strains, and is a line Tulip. 
Colbert is somewhat small, but vei*y bright, and a. beautiful flower; Dr. Horner, dwarf, perfect in form 
and having an excellent base ; Dr. Hardy follows, and near them is the beautiful Storer’s No. I ; 
Criterion is a beautiful crimson self ; Masterpiece breaks in many ways, sometimes splendidly marked, 
and at other times ragged, but is a noble fellow at his best ; Pilot strikes everyone as a splendid variety, 
of line habit with faultless shape, magnificent base, and rich lustrous colour, it is a gem. 
The Byblcemens, nre violet or purple on a white ground. Duchess of Sutherland is a delicate pure 
flower ; Lord Denman has beautiful markings; Friar Tuck Inis a fine base and stands firm ; Mrs. Jackson 
possesses beautiful form ; Adonis is noteworthy; Mud of Orleans and Mrs. Pickerill awake admiration ; 
and Talisman is pernapa the finest of all. 
The Bose section, which have rose, scarlet, or crimson on a white gr »und, embrace some brilliant 
flowers. Madame St. Arnaud is remarkable for beauty of base. Pretty Jane exhibits groat beauty of 
colouring. Modesty , a flower of beautiful form, and there is glorious Annie McGregor represented 
both in breeder and broken forms, in every respect a perfect flower; Sarah Deadly is also a very 
tine flower. 
The varieties mentioned in the three sections above-named are typical of the whole. 
English amateur florists are proverbially kind and willing to help each other, but for obvious reasons 
they cannot spread their cherished gems far and wide. Until, therefore, “English Tulips” are 
recognised in commerce they will not ho generally obtainable. For a long time it seemed as if they 
would have no trade home; but. a. colony, and not a small one, has been foimed at Long Ditton in 
Messrs. Barr & Son's grounds of Daffodil fame. If Mr. William Barr can do for and with these Tulips 
a tithe of what the energetic and devoted head of the firm did for the Daffodil, he will make himself a 
name that will not soon he forgotten. The young fancier is enthusiastic, diligent, and careful, as was 
evident when note was taken on a sultry day of 5000 or (iOOl) individual blooms, under the cool guidance 
of a veteran (Dr. Hogg). As of some varieties there are but few bulbs, mayhap the time is not far 
distant when at least pome of thepe may be offered, and not. at prohibitive prices. What are sold as 
Amateur’s varieties (“ English Tulips ”), must be clear, distinct, and correct; and this is evidently the 
object at Barr and Son's Nursery, any that departed from the standard type were marked to go in 
mixture. These will be distributed as decorative varieties, and some of them may, and it is hoped will, 
create a desire for something better, brighter, clearer, and more refined. 
Condensed from the Journal of Horticulture , May 4th, 1893 : — 
Two years ago come June a writer in the Journal of Horticulture, fresh from a vi.-it to a Tulip bed 
that impressed him— not one of those glowing masses of yellow, crimson, or rise produced by early 
bedding Tulips in parks and gardens in April and May— hut the Tulip bed of an old Amateur Florist , 
thus recorded his impressions : — •“ There are Tulips from many collections in England, and several from 
continental sources, but there-is no mistaking of the superiority of form, substance, and accuracy in 
colouration of the English Florists' Tulips. The 1 Amateur’s ’ Florist Tulips of the Continent in general 
appearance ore attractive, and the colours of some compel admiration ; but in most of the blooms the 
colours are where they ought not to be, running right down to the base of the petals, and in some other 
respects irregular. Many of the petals are long, pointed, and flimsy, lacking the close cup-like shape 
and stout texture of the best ‘English Tulips,' which, at the base, appear as if a sun was set at the 
bottom of the flower of the Bizarres, and the most silvery of moons in the base of the Boses and 
Byblcemens, which light up the colours of the flamed and feathered petals displayed in beautiful 
regularity and indiscriminate hues.” 
The overwhelming majority of Dutch Florists’ or Amateurs' Tulips, effective as they may be for 
garden decoration, are wholly distinct from and distinctly inferior to the highest type of “ English 
Tulips.” This is plainly seen when extensively grown in comparison, as in Messrs. Barr & Son’s 
Collection. It. is important that this should be known and the essential differences between what may be 
termed home and foreign flamed and feathered varieties recognized, now that a demand is increasing for 
Tulips that combine brilliancy with chaste refinement, such as is represented in the Florists’ forms of 
T. Gesneriana These are usually in full beauty in May, sometimes June, but this year they were fully 
expanded in the south of England during the last week in April. Bods of these Tulips, shaded with 
canvas, remain attractive for a month— a veritable floral feast, fascinating and unique. 
If this is so it may be asked, “ Why are not these English Florists’ Tulips more popular? why are 
collections of them so few and far between ? ” Because there has been no attempt, to popularize them, 
but somewhat the reverse. Connoisseurs as a body have valued thorn for tlieir rarity, and have not 
willingly let them “ go.’’ The highest forms are regarded by those who possess and love them as 
precious gems not to be entrusted to persons who do not appreciate what, they represent —years of 
unremitting care in their preservation following years of waiting from the flowering of seedlings to the 
breaking from the self-coloured or breeder stage into the flames of colour or feathered fringes that come 
to stay, and give life-long pleasure to those who own and cherish them. Is there much wonder that they 
should be jealously guarded, and, as far as possible, kept in the hands of these who know tlieir value, 
instead of being scattered abroad and lost ? ’’ 
The choicer and rarer named varieties of “ English Tulips ’’ have hitherto been difficult to obtain, 
and to form collections of them is not done in a year or two ; thus, those who like to become growers 
of these remarkable flowers will have to do as their “ fore-elders” did — start at the bottom of the ladder 
and steadily work upwards — until recently it, has been extremely difficult to make a start at all. Conti- 
nental mixtures could be obtained, but these do not form a good foundation. Inexpensive mixtures of 
