JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
May 10,1894. 
36(> 
So long as public teaching of that nature is unavailable, those 
who need light on the subject must seek for it and find it in the best 
way they can. Undoubtedly one of the best private schools for 
instruction to be found is a Tulip bed, not a mere mass of flaming 
flowers such as may be seen in hundreds of gardens ; but a genuine 
canvas-covered Tulip bed, planted on recognised cross lines of 
seven bulbs in a row, no more and no lees, of bizarres, bybloemens, 
roses, and so on from end to end, every variety cherished for some 
precious possession, and of course all named. But not named in the 
bed—that would not be in order, perhaps it would reveal too much. 
The bed is for the plants and the book for the names. True the 
rows are numbered, or every fifth may be to facilitate convenience 
of reference to any particular flower; but if some accident should 
happen, and the numbeis get displaced, nothing is lost but a little 
time, for every row is entered in the book, and every bulb in the row, 
so that each variety can be identified frc m the moment of planting to 
lifting. Then come the trays, the resting beds we may call them, 
in which every variety has its rest, its little square, and all numbered 
in turn. Tulip growing teaches exact methods, confusion would 
lead to a calamity almost, or at least involve tedious work in 
rectification. 
But Tulip beds are not everywhere to be found. We may have 
to travel miles to see one. A hundred miles would be a short journey 
to the votary ; but to the novice there is the freshness of novelty to 
repay him, and he discovers how much there is to learn, also what a 
fund of interest 'I ulips possess, and the extraordinary pleasure they 
give to their owners. The writer has now had four Tulip lessons, 
and is beginning to feel like one of the seifs that has been for years 
in the same dress—the breeder stage—and just beginning to “ break” 
into the new life, like the butterfly from the chrysalis, only some of 
these chrysalid Tulips are superlatively charming, while deponent is 
exactly the reverse. 
Four lessons in as many years, and the dates impart a lesson, 
flhe first visit was June 6th, 1891, the second June 3rd, 1892, the 
third April 29th, 1893, and the last May 5th, 1894. fl'his at once 
indicates the relative earliness and lateness of the seasons, for 
Tulips are emphatically children of the sun, and come only at his 
bidding. Sometimes they come quickly too, and this brings into 
relief the element of uncertainty in fixing the date of the shows. 
This year’s show at Westminster must be too late for southerners 
generally. The bed visited in Sussex (Dr. Hogg’s) was waning 
last Saturday, the freshness having departed fiom most of the 
flowers ; they were by no means equal to last year’s form a week 
earlier in the season, and were in fact very much in the same 
condition as was ihe case a month later in 1891. 
The Doctor has been adding to his collection somewhat, having 
procured some of the varieties, rectified and breeders, from the 
collection of the late Mr. Lloyd of Petersfield. The former are of 
great promise, not only by their colours and clearness but their 
sturdy vigour. There is nothing “ miify ” about them, yet nothing 
lacking in refinement. As an instance of the deep rooted love 
Mr. I loyd had for these flowers, this gentleman, when business 
urgently called him to Canada, chose his time so that he could 
take his collection with him, enjoy and watch the progress of the 
flowers from the breeder stage, and bring his precious bulbs home 
again. More than once they thus crossed the sea, and perhaps 
benefited by the change as denoted by the present constitution of the 
plants. A famous Manchester grower who benefits by a sojourn by 
the sea yearly, it is said, takes his Tulips with him in the hope that 
the change will do them good. And this said “Manchester man” 
thought nothing of rushing a few hundred miles to and fro on more 
than one occasion to inspect and obtain a share of Mr. Lloyd’s much- 
prized varieties. When a really good collection of Tulips is in the 
market it would seem as if all the world of fanciers were after it, and 
the disposal can only be determined by amicable division, so strong is 
the desire for their possession. The outside world cannot understand 
this, simply because outsiders—the unlearned in Tulip attributes_do 
not understand what is to the cognoscenti the rarest gems in the 
floral world. 
As there are always novices, and always will be, it may be well 
to tell those of them who care to know what one of the tribe has 
learned about breeder and rectified flowers in the different sections. 
The former are the first flowers from seed, and are yellow, rose or 
purple seifs. How long they will remain so no one knows. The 
breaking of the flowers, the darting up of the basal cdour through 
the petals in flame or feathered form, is beyord guidance or control. 
There is no change of colours, but a marvellous distribution, and' 
when once effected there is no return, no tnore than there is of the 
silvered locks of mature manhood reverting to the normal colour 
of youth. 
But the self flowers, or “ breeders,” differ in their hues. Some 
of the rose colours often deepen to pale crimson. The real crimson 
flowers become bizarres when they break, the yellow rays shooting 
through the crimson. The rose-coloured flowers remain roses, and 
the purples become bybloemens, both having silver markings. Why ? 
Because at the base of each rose and purple self is a clear disc of 
pure white. This must be bold, spotless, and well defined, like a 
burnished silver coin resting at the bottom of the cup. In the 
crimson seifs this basal disc is golden, and these discs impart some¬ 
thing of themselves, yet without visible loss, to the body of the petals 
above, giving to them permanent marks of beauty. This clear basal 
field of purity, freedom from blotch or streak, is the “hall mark” 
of excellence in the florists’ Tulip. Occasionally a self flower may 
almost approach crimson ; yet if the base is white it will break into 
a flamed or feathered rose, if yellow into a bizarre. 
For decorative purposes late Tulips of the section under notice 
are highly efifective by their chaste or rich markings, even if defec¬ 
tive in certain points as viewed from the florists’ ideal. Mixed un¬ 
named collections impart beauty to the garden, while afiEording 
opportunity for studying the flowers, and selecting those for special 
care which approach the most nearly to the standard of value. In 
this way the eye becomes educated, and in time small and more or 
less choice collections are formed to be cherished accordingly ; but 
named varieties of high repute are not likely to become common, 
and they are consequently prized the more by those who are fortu¬ 
nate in possessing them. Still, some of the named varieties are 
sufficiently plentiful to be sold at prices the reverse of prohibitive, 
while they are as beautiful as some of the rarer sorts. 
As many of the leading varieties were staged at Westminster, 
as will be seen by the report below, it must suffice that the names 
be mentioned in connection with the show ; but judging by the 
Sussex collection southern blooms cannot be in anything like the 
best condition ; it is therefore hoped that fresh and bright examples 
maj’- be forthcoming from later districts of the country. 
TULIP EXHIBITION AT WESTMINSTER.— May 8th. 
The number of Tulips brought together at the Drill Hall by the 
Royal National Tulip Society was greatly in excess of what was 
expected. The competition in some of the classes was remarkably 
close, but the judging took experts by surprise, and in more than one 
class the second prize stand should certainly have taken third place, 
and the third second, in the opinion of gentlemen who cannot be 
considered other than competent as well as absolutely unprejudiced 
judges. As will be seen by the subjoined prize list, the honours were 
taken mainly by northerners, their flowers being fresher than those 
belonging to the southern counties. 
Mr. J. W. Bentley, Stakehill House, Castleton, Manchester, was 
accorded the first prize for twelve distinct rectified Tulips, two 
feathered and two flamed of each class. The bizarres included Sir 
Joseph Paxton (two), General Grant, and unnamed blooms ; bybloemens, 
Ashmole’s 126, Universe, Chancellor, and Bessie ; roses, Annie Mac- 
gregor. Modesty, Mabel (two). The second prize went to Mr. Jas. 
Thurston, Cardiff, with small blooms lacking in substance and form. 
The third to Mr. C. W. Needham, with a stand of clean shapely flowers ; 
Annie Macgregor (rose). Geo. Hayward (bizarre). Talisman (bybloemen), 
Lizzie (rose), and Sir Joseph Paxton (bizarre). Messrs. P. Barr & Son, 
King Street, Covent Garden, were fourth with small but well shaped 
and marked flowers, and Mr. J. Walker, Thame, filth with larger 
blooms lacking finish. 
For six distinct rectified Tulips Mr. J. W. Bentley was again first 
with bizarres Sir Joseph Paxton and John Mills; roses (two) Mabel ; 
byblcetnens Chancellor and Bessie. The peculiarity in the judging 
was noticeable in this as in the previous class, the same gemlemen 
occupying the respective positions of second, third, fourth, and fifth. 
In Mr. Needham’s stand Annie Macgregor (rose), Sir Joseph Paxton 
(bizarre), and Juno (bybloemen), were particularly prominent. 
Mr. C. W, Needham, was first for three flamed blooms, showing Sir 
Joseph Paxton (bizarre). Duchess of Sutherland (bybloemen), and Mabel 
(rose), each of the flowers, more especially the first and last named, 
being particularly good. Mr. J. W. Bentley was second with Ajax 
(bizarre). Friar Tuck (bybloemen), and Annie Macgregor (rose). 
Mr. J. Thurston, was third with three seedlings of fair form. Mr. 
Walker fourth ; and Mr. G. Edom, Horeham Road, Sussex, fifth. 
In the class for three feathered flowers Mr. J. W. Bentley was 
first with E. S. Smith (bizarre), Adonis (bybloemen), and Alice (rose), 
and Messrs. P. Barr & Son second with Charles X. (bizarre), Adonis 
(bybloemen), and Vicar of Radford (rose). 
The first prize for six breeders, distinct, went to Mr. C. W. Needham 
with a charming exhibit, comprising Sir J. Paxton and Horner’s 
Seedling (bizarres). Glory of Stakehill and Leach’s No. 2 Seedling 
(bybloemen.'-), and Madame de St. Arnaud and Mrs. Barlow (roses). 
The colouration in these flowers was of exceptional intensity, and the 
disc at the base was clearly defined in each bloom. The second prize 
was taken by Mr. J. W. Bentley with Horner’s Seedling and Wm. 
Lea (bizarres), Adonis and Wm. Parkinson (bybloemens), and Miss 
Burdett Coutts and Rose Hill (roses). The blooms were good, the 
colours being pure and clearly defined. Mr. J, Thurston was third 
with six delicately coloured seedlings ; Messrs. Barr Sc Son fourth with 
highly creditable blooms, and Mr. Geo. Edom, fair examples. 
The Samuel Barlow prize for the best pair of rectified Tulips went 
to Mr. J. W. Bentley with Dr. Hardy and Leech’s Seedling (bizarres), 
with flowers of a very high order of merit ; Mr, C. W. Needham 
