THE FLORIST. 
125 
The base inside ought to be exceedingly pure, not a cloudy white, 
in the byblomen or rose; nor yet a yellowish green in the bizarre, 
but a pure bright yellow. The stamens ought to be also pure, and 
the anthers bold, the pericarpium not quite so high as the anthers; 
but allowances ought to be made if the top of the stamens be slightly 
tinged, as this is most commonly owing to the colouring matter run¬ 
ning down, and causing what is but a trifling defect. I have often 
observed a flower, when it has been in bloom during seven days, to 
have clean stamens, and then gradually to colour until they became 
completely discoloured. This often happens with Polyphemus and 
some others. 
Now in judging the Tulip, I should not consider it a great defect 
if only tinged slightly at the top ; but if the whole, or the greater por¬ 
tion, were discoloured, I should consider it a great defect, and place it 
accordingly in the class. 
Size ought always to be taken into consideration, and, where the 
flower is perfect in its marking, or nearly so, it ought on all occasions 
to have priority. The petals ought to be broad, thick, and fleshy, 
well rounded at the top, and, when expanded, fall back and clip each 
other so closely as scarcely to be seen where they meet, and they 
ought never to hang loosely. The edges of the petals ought to be as 
smooth as possible ; all serratures and notches are defects; the petals 
ought all to be equal in length, and should not shew wide openings 
at the top. Pointed and narrow petals form very great defects, and 
all flowers of this character are generally long in the cup; and, when 
they have been some time in bloom, shew openings which will at 
once disqualify them from winning prizes. 
Feathered flowers. — A feathered flower ought to be regularly 
marked, and the feather not too broad in some places and deficient in 
others, and it should be composed of fine pencillings striking into the 
ground colour so as to be just visible at their terminations. Some 
prefer heavy feathered flowers; but, when flowers are very heavy, 
they do not possess the neat appearance which they exhibit when 
they are in a medium way. A light feather, if very perfect and re¬ 
gular, is far more desirable than a heavy one, A plated feather, that 
is, a feather laid on destitute of fine strokes or pencillings, is not to 
be so highly prized as one exhibiting nature’s more delicate and finished 
touches. 
Every break in the feathering ought to be considered a defect, as 
well as every mark on the ground colour, together with all patches 
of Breeder colour; and the flower that has the fewest faults should 
be placed first, and so on to the end of the class. 
The ground colour of a bizarre ought to be a good, bright, strong 
yellow: all straw and pale lemon grounds must give place to the 
stronger ones, and those approaching what is termed king's yellow or 
chrome yellow are to be preferred. A dull heavy orange colour is as 
great a defect in a bizarre as the pale-coloured ones. 
Colour of feather. —This is a point in which much difference of 
opinion exists, and one which ought to be defined. Some judges will 
scarcely look upon a reddish-coloured bizarre, and would, in many 
K 
