BARR’S BEAUTIFUL “ENGLISH AMATEUR” TULIPS. 
5 
BARR’S BEAUTIFUL “ENGLISH AMATEUR” TULIPS. 
May-flowering. 
Awarded by the Royal Horticultural Society a Silver Medal, May gth t 1893. 
Awarded at the Temple Show, the Royal Horticultural Society’s Sliver Cup, May 25 th, 1893 , 
and the R.H.S. Silver Gilt Flora Medal, May 8th, 1894 . 
These beautiful Tulips in the South of England commence flowering according to the earliness or lateness 
of the season, from the first to the last week in May. Dr. Hogg can testify that if looked after they may be 
enjoyed for a month. The “English Tulip” is pre-eminently an amateur’s flower, and has been so for 
about 300 years. London was at one time the centre of Amateur Tulip growers, Scotland then dividing 
the honour. The Amateur element at the present time is mainly centred in Derbyshire, Lancashire, and 
Yorkshire, and in these counties many fine varieties have been raised during the last forty years. Amateurs 
who may be induced to take up Tulip culture will be pleased to read the following extract from the Manchester 
Guardian , 2nd June, 1892, from the pen of the late Mr. Samuel Barlow, one of the greatest authorities on 
“ English Amateur ” Tulips 
“The best Amateur Tulips known to exist, or that have ever existed, have been raised in England, 
principally in the Northern counties — Lancashire, Yorkshire, and Derbyshire. Over forty years ago the late 
Dr. Hardy, of Warrington, in a series of papers to the Midland Florist, completely settled all the points of 
excellence which go to make a first-class Florist Tulip, and his definitions have never since been disputed. 
Since then the cultivation of Florist Tulips has much improved, especially in the three counties named, although, 
singular to say, it has almost died out in the South of England, where, fifty years ago, the most enthusiastic 
Tulip growers made London their centre for exhibitions. There are distinct evidences now of a revival of 
interest in the South of this grand old flower, and I hope that the Exhibitions of the Royal National Tulip 
Society will give additional stimulus to the cultivation and love for this fascinating flower. 
BarPs Prize Medals for the best Collection of “ English Amateur'' Tulips will be awarded by the Royal 
Horticultural Society, 117, Victoria Street, Westminster , London . The competitions will take place at three 
meetings , May 14 th and May 21st, 22nd, and 2y'd, and June nth, to give Exhibitors from the Forth and the 
South equal chances. 1st Prize, Barr's Large Silver Medal. 2nd Prize, Barr s Small Silver Medal. 
3rd Prize, Barr's Large Bronze Medal. Notice to be given in advance of the Shows to the Secretary of the 
R.H.S. , intimating the intention to compete for Barr* s Medals. On the morning of the Show, the collection 
should be officially entered, and a card received indicating competition for Barrs Medals. The Competitions for 
May 21 st, 22 ml, and 23 rd, will be in connection with the Temple Show. 
Mr. J. W. Bentley also offers 1st and 2nd Prizes at the Meeting, nth June, of the R.H.S. for 
“ English Amateur ” Tulips. The Royal National Tulip Society offer Prizes, 21st, 22nd, and 23rd May, Temple 
Show ; full particulars will be found in the Arrangement of the R.H.S. for 1895. 
The Rev. Francis D. Homer, a most successful Amateur Tulip cultivator and raiser of new varieties, read 
a valuable paper on “ Amateur Tulips" to the Fellows of the Royal Horticultural Society, April 19, 1892, and 
the same will be found in Vol. XV., Parts 2 and 3, “Journal of the Royal Horticultural Society,” page 99. 
We commend it for perusal by intending Amateur Tulip Cultivators. 
In “Hardy Florist Flowers," by Mr. James Douglas, there is a chapter on “English Iulips, which 
deals with the whole subject of planting, lifting, and general culture. 
Our Woodcuts represent 
the upper sections only of 
Tulip petals. The one on 
the left shows what is termed 
a feathered flower, the colour 
being confined mainly to the 
edge of the petal. The right 
hand block represents a 
flamed flower, the colour 
runs round the edge of the 
petal, and in the centre breaks 
into a flame. 
The Woodcuts are simply 
intended as representations of typical markings. But it is as well to state, however, 
variability in the colouring of these “Amateur Tulips" from one year to another, and it is seldom a flower 
repeats exactly the same amount of colouring in its dress, but even this is not without its interest to Amateurs ; 
a feathered flower will sometimes become flamed, and a flamed flower feathered. The colour will sometimes 
be heavier and sometimes lighter, this difference being often the result of culture. 
that there is a certain 
12 and 13 King Street , Covent Garden , 1895. J 
