i8 
BARR’S Gold Medal English Tulips, 1896. 
BARR’S 
Beautiful “ Gold JVIedal ” English Tulips. 
MAY-FLOWERING. 
Awarded the Gold Medal of the Royal National Tulip Society 
at the Temple Show , London, May 19 th, 1896 . 
THESE BEAUTIFUL ENGLISH TULIPS we can confidently recommend to amateurs 
for select places in the garden, and for massing in flower-beds and borders. They form a valuable 
succession to the Early Tulips, while for symmetry of form and beauty of marking they far surpass them. 
OUR LONG DITTON COLLECTION OF ENGLISH TULIPS is the largest one in 
existence and well worth a visit in May, when they may be seen in all their beauty. 
TULIPS AT BARR’S LONG DITTON NURSERIES. 
Extract from “The Garden,” 30th May, 1896. 
Tub Tulips are the gayest of garden flowers at the present time. Many kinds are dazzling hy the exceeding bril- 
liancy of their flowers, particularly those with vivid scarlet, the exact shade of many often defying description. At 
the present time one of the grandest displays near London may he soon at the bulb grounds of Messrs. Barr 
and Son at Long Ditton. Here are many thousands of hulbs now in the heyday of their beauty. These Tulips are 
the more valuable to our gardens not only because of their perfect hardiness, hut because of their variety and their 
simple cultural requirements. In many instances the flowers were supported on stout stems nearly 2 feet high, the 
foliage equally robust and vigorous 
By far the largest area at Long Ditton was quite in the open, without the least protection of any kind. And here the 
array of colour, as well as of form, was remarkable, the most vivid of scarlets, the more brilliant roses, as well as 
the most striking of bizarres and others of a glossy black. Close by, however, in a canvas-covered tent, was 
arranged a brilliant assortment of the leading kinds in all sections where the visitor may conveniently inspect these 
marvellous flowers, and at the same time receive protection from the sun’s rays. In this temporary tent the 
flowers were very fine, and being arranged in their sections, were convenient for comparison. Those who prize 
their collections of Tulips and have a desire to prolong their flowering to its utmost extent cannot do better than 
aflord some slight protection such as was in use at Long Ditton. Of course, this can only be done in the garden of the 
specialist who prizes his flowers. In this particular instance the great gain of this canvas protection was obvious, 
uud was also further assisted hy a copious watering round about the beds and paths inside the tent. It is in details 
of this kind that the display can he kept up for a longer time than is possible otherwise. 
Inside this covered tent the display of Tulips was a truly remarkable one ; remarkable for the almost endless 
variety it contained, and equally so for the sterling quality of the blooms themselves. Here were numerous 
bizarres in their primary or breeder stage, and again in their more beautiful and certainly more diversified form, 
which is distinguished us the rectified types of these flowers, all side by side for comparison, and therefore the 
more enjoyable. And just in the same way we found the roses, bybloemens, &c., all playmg a part in the display. 
In a collection such as this, replete with every kind worthy of culture, together with a large assortment on trial and 
numerous species into the bargain, it was only possible to note a few in each group of the more distinct and beauti- 
ful. First noted was the collection of 
BIZARRES, 
which in the rectified form embrace shades of orange, scarlet-crimson, together with black and brown on a lemon or 
golden ground, and with a clear yellow base. The clear base is a most important characteristic in these flowers, and 
where the base is stained (which it sometimes is) with green, its value to the fancier is lost. Among the most important 
were Lord Lilford, a madder-brown on bright yellow ground, the feather good and distinct. Colbert, chocolate flame 
on bright golden yellow, is of capital form, the growth beiDg dwarf nnd compact. Dr. Hardy one of the gems oi 
this group — is here in strong force, in colour one of the brightest, the scarlet-crimson on the bright orange-yellow 
being most effective. Duke of Devonshire is a superb flower of large size, blackish chocolate on lemon; George 
Hayward, rich crimson-maroon on gold, a very handsome flower, surpassingly beautiful and rich iu colour. 
Masterpiece is a finely-shaped flower, of which a select feathered strain contained some exquisite forms ; some with 
a glossy black feather on clear gold were very striking. Sir Joseph Paxton was well to the front in flume and 
feathered varieties, among which were some exquisite forms ; indeed, it is such as this and the remarkable variety 
bearing the name of Samuel Barlow that one returns to again and again— the latter a glowing scarlet- crimson on a 
golden ground and most perfect in form. These are but a fragment of the many fine things in this section. Notable 
among the seifs were the fragrant -flowered variety Sulphur, John Heap (buff-brown). King (deep crimsou- 
brown), and William Lee, blackish crimson, a very tine flower. Then came the 
BYBLOEMENS, 
the colours of which are violet, purple, black, &c., on a clear white ground with white base, and here Glory of 
Stakehill, a rich purple on white and a very tine flower, was conspicuous; also Adonis, purple and black on white 
ground ; Agnes, almost black; Bessie, brilliant purple, dwarf; Duchess of Sutherland, lilac on white; Lord 
Denman, puce-purple ; Pick-me-out, shiny chocolate-crimson, with very clear white base ; Mrs. Jackson, black on 
white, a most beautiful as well as a showy aud useful kind, quite an acquisition; and Talisman, violet-black on 
white and very showy. Here, again, the self-coloured flowers are very flue. The 
Visitors invited to see Barr’s Beautiful English Tulips in Bloom in May. 
