May 16, 1896. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
597 
TULIPS AT LONG DITTON. 
To attempt to find a " why” and a ” wherefore ” for 
all the decrees of fashion would of a truth be a 
thankless task, and one indeed closely akin to the 
impossible. We read with something like incredulity 
of the time when the phlegmatic and level-headed 
Hollander indulged in a period of temporary insanity 
over the beauties of a flower ; how staid merchants 
became transformed into virulent tulipomaniacs; 
and how they struggled and gambled with, and, 
mayhap, swindled each other, for the one is a close 
concomitant of the other, to obtain some specially 
gorgeous variety of the common or garden Tulip 
that perchance had no existence after all. Verily 
the history of that period, which may be said to 
have commenced with the year 1634, seems to read 
like some old page from a romance in which the 
romancer has exhibited a more than ordinary dis¬ 
regard for the teachings of truth and verity, and has 
indulged in an extra special flight into the realms of 
the imaginary. Doubtless it all seems very strange 
to us that the passion for any class of flowers should 
reach such an overwhelming height, but although we 
cannot attempt to analyse it, we are at least obliged 
to confess the intrinsic decorative value of the 
subject upon which all this attention was lavished. 
Can anything be more superbly gorgeous, more 
unspeakably brilliant than large masses of the noble 
flower in all its varied hues, and with all its subtle 
shades of colour, that merrily glint back the sun¬ 
light and flutter gracefully in the breeze ? Such a 
spectacle must enthral even the most unimpression¬ 
able of mortals, and admiration and appreciation 
follow as a matter of course. 
Fully aware of the decorative value of the Tulip, 
and knowing that sooner or later it must again win 
its way to widespread popularity and prominence 
Messrs. Barr & Son have for long taken it up in their 
usual thorough manner, with the result that their 
nurseries at Long Ditton are at the present moment 
literally aflame with a fiery glow of colour that 
baffles all art of the pen to adequately describe. 
The nurseries are situated about fifteen minutes walk 
from the London and South-Western Railway 
station at Surbiton, which, by the way, is one of the 
prettiest railway stations to be seen throughout the 
length and breadth of the country. Although the 
Tulip admirably resists the banef ul effects of smoke 
—witness the grand displays that have been forth¬ 
coming of late in our public parks and gardens—it 
does even better when away from the grime and the 
smoke of the noisy city, and amid the sweet rurality 
of one of the prettiest parts of Surrey it fairly sur¬ 
passes itself. 
It fell to our lot to visit Messrs. Barr’s famous 
nurseries upon a typical May morning, when the heat 
of a radiant sun shining from an almost Italian sky 
was tempered in a measure by a refreshing breeze, 
'neath the influence of which the stately flowers 
waved and sparkled with all the wondrous hues of 
the kaleidoscope—ever changeful but ever beautiful. 
Mr. J. W. Barr, who holds the reins at Long Ditton, 
is an enthusiast of the first water, and he is never 
more at home than when showing to an interesting 
visitor the good points of the flowers he loves so well. 
Of his high ability as a cultivator there can only be 
one opinion, judging by the most absolute of all tests 
—viz., that of results. 
Now the Tulip is like nothing else in creation, as 
our friend, the Yankee, would say. It has whims, 
and ways, and dodges, peculiarly its own, and he 
who cultivates it must be prepared for all eventuali¬ 
ties, for sooth to say the undertaking is somewhat 
speculative in character. In the earlier stages of 
the plant’s history it throws each year a self or uni¬ 
coloured flower with a light or dark blotch at the 
base of the perianth segments. This goes on for an 
indefinite period until, lo ! and behold ! something 
occurs, and our erstwhile unicoloured flower breaks 
out into a wonderfully-flamed or feathered article 
that may or may not be an improvement upon the 
original. Herein lies the uncertainty. Mr. J. W. 
Barr is of opinion that climate has far more to do 
with causing seifs to break or rectify than peculiari¬ 
ties of soil, for some years the number of flowers 
that disport themselves in this manner will far out¬ 
number those that break in others. In case where 
the rectifying of varieties is anxiously looked for, a 
change of situation will often have the desired 
effect. A great mystery, however, surrounds the 
“breaking” of Tulips; we know they do it, but 
how it is done, and the precise causes that effect the 
change we wot not. 
Darwins. 
These are all uni-coloured flowers, usually with dark 
bases. They run from 18 io. to 2J ft. in height, last 
a long time in bloom, and when planted in masses 
are exceedingly showy and beautiful; indeed, they 
will compare very favourably with any of the other 
sections. There is a considerable range of colour 
exhibited. Early Dawn is a rosy lake, slightly 
shaded towards the edges of the segments with white. 
Flambeau is very appropriately named, being of a 
brilliant carmine ; Joseph Chamberlain with a huge 
fiery scarlet bloom is as conspicuous among the 
other Tulips of the Darwin section as its name-father 
is at the present among the diplomats. Scarlet 
Beauty is indeed a beauty with its large glowing 
vermillion-scarlet flowers. Very charming is 
Erguste, which bears blooms of a delicate lilac hue, 
slightly shaded on occasion with silver. Of Roses 
May Queen is unsurpassed for softness and 
delicacy of tint, Loveliness being rather brighter in 
hue. Turning from these bright gems the sombre 
dark hue of La Place is all the more conspicuous, 
whilst The Sultan with huge globular flowers of a 
similar shade if anything goes one deeper. In the 
full blaze of the sun these last two varieties are 
inimitable for depth and richness of colouring. 
Bizarres. 
The distinguishing characteristics of this section are 
flamings or featherings of orange-scarlet, and 
crimson, as well as many shades of black and brown 
on a lemon, deep yellow, or golden-yellow ground. 
The central zone, or base, is of a stainless yellow. 
Dr. Hardy is a superb example of what a florists’ 
Tulip should be. It is flamed and feathered 
respectively in its two rectified forms with rich deep 
scarlet on bright orange-yellow. The flower is of 
extra size, and the perianth segments of great 
substance. In the breeder stage, it is of a rich 
mahogany-brown hue, and very handsome. Sulphur 
Flamed and Sulphur Feathered are both very 
gay ; the former is flamed, and the latter feathered 
with dark olive-brown on a clear yellow ground. 
Sulphur breeder is as noticeable for its 
sweet and powerful scent as for its colour which 
is olive-brown charmingly suffused with old 
gold. The segments are of exceptional width 
and substance. Sir Joseph Paxton is simply 
magnificent. It is of sturdy habit and throws 
flowers of a tremendous size. The flaming and 
feathering of maroon-black on a clear lemon ground 
is perfect, and the basal zone is absolutely free from 
any of the greenish smudges that are so great a 
detraction to some varieties. In the breeder stage 
of this variety, we get a flower fully as large but not 
quite so showy as in the rectified strains, it being 
deep chocolate-brown in hue. Samuel Barlow is 
also of perfect form, and flowing scarlet-crimson in 
colour upon a glittering gold ground. Pilot is deep 
brick-red on yellow. It came from the same seed-pod 
as Dr. Hardy. John Theap is most showy as a 
breeder, exhibiting a*harming shade of terra cotta, 
a hue that is all too scarce among our favourite 
flowers. Lord Frederick Cavendish is very beautiful 
with bright chesnut-red markings on a gold ground. 
Masterpiece breeder exhibits a rich golden-brown 
shade, breaking into a flaming or feathering of deep 
maroon-black on bright yellow. Duke of Devonshire 
is remarkable on account of its enormous size. It is 
not, perhaps, the type of perfection from the florist's 
point of view, but it is exceedingly showy. The 
markings are chocolate-black on a clear lemon 
ground. Lord Stanley has rather a shorter flower 
than the foregoing varieties, but the segments are 
broad and massive, and in colour mahogany-crimson 
on yellow. Very charming is Dr. Hutcheon, with 
chocolate-black featherings on lemon. Colbert is 
dwarfer in habit than the last-named, and rather a 
brighter flower. It is feathered with chocolate upon 
a rich golden-yellow ground colour Favonius as a 
breeder is superb. It is a rich dark brown, slightly 
suffused with old gold. Goldfinder breeder breaks 
into one of the best bizarres yet raised, says Mr. 
Barr. It is bright scarlet in colour with a rich 
yellow base. 
Bybloemens. 
These are distinguished by markings of black, violet, 
or purple, ranging to clear pale lilac, or lavender, 
upon a clear white ground, with a stainless white 
centre or base, and some of the finest of the florists 
Tulips belong to this section. Adonis with its rich 
black velvety purple markings on the white ground 
is exceptionally brilliant. The feathered form is if 
anything rather better than the flamed. Agnes is 
much after the same style, but scarcely so dark. As 
breeders, both of these are an ornament to any 
collection. The lilac markings of Duchess of Suther¬ 
land are very pretty and delicate, and the white 
groundwork clear and dazzling. Friar Tuck is at 
once a bold and conspicuous flower with heavy 
purple markings. Lord Denman has rather lighter 
Puce-purple markings and is distinct and pretty. In 
Queen of May we find a gem. The shaft of the 
feather is heavy and well marked and very deep 
crimson in hue. Talisman, violet-black on white is 
wonderfully showy, in the breeder stage ; its slaty 
purple flowers are sure to attract attention. Maid 
of the Mill, lilac ; Miss Foster, clear lavender ; Miss 
Hardy, light purple ; and Philip I., deep heliotrope ; 
are all superb Byloemen breeder varieties that can 
scarce fail to catch on with the general public. 
Roses. 
In no other section is the contrast between the 
ground colour, which is pure white, and the markings 
which comprise exquisite shades of rose, passing on 
into scarlet and crimson, more dazzling than in the 
Rose Tulips. It really is almost impossible to give 
a list of the best, for all are superb. The following, 
however, charmed our fancy most completely, to use 
a very mild expression:—Annie McGregor is 
certainly one of the most striking. In the breeder 
stage it is a lovely rose scarlet self, very bright, and 
of superb form. When it becomes rectified, the 
colouring appears all the more vivid and striking. 
Aglaia is a fine rose-coloured variety with exquisite 
markings. Anastasia is one of the tallest. It is 
charmingly feathered with rich crimson. The hue of 
Industry may be described as bright scarlet-cerise 
upon white. As a breeder this last-named is excep¬ 
tionally gay. Mabel, bright rose upon white; Rose 
Hill, carmine-rose on white; Lucretia, bright rosy- 
scarlet on white ; and Sarah Headley, deep crimson 
on white are all splendid examples of Rose rectified 
Tulips. In the breeder form they, of course, exhibit 
only one colour besides that of the small central 
zone at the base of the segments, and that colour is 
a foreshadowing of what is to be when the flower 
becomes rectified. 
While speaking of self-coloured varieties we must 
not forget to mention, Cygnet, one of the finest and 
purest whites, without spot or blemish or any such 
thing that we have ever seen. The flower is globular 
in shape, the cup being deep and full, whilst the 
segments are stout and substantial. It would 
appear, moreover, to be a very vigorous variety. 
Species, hybrids, and notable Varieties. 
A large number of species is cultivated at Long 
Ditton, including most of those which are of horti¬ 
cultural value. T. gesneriana is very conspicuous 
with its huge brilliant scarlet flowers supported on 
tall stout peduncles. 
This is generally admitted to be the species from 
which have sprung most of our later flowering- 
garden forms. T. gesneriana spathulata has larger 
flowers than those of the type. In fact, it has pro¬ 
bably the largest flowers of any of the wild Tulips. 
In colour they are rich crimson-scarlet, with a large 
blue-black blotch at fhe base of the segments. T. 
retroflexa, which is most likely a hybrid between T. 
gesneriana and T. acuminata has oblong acutely 
pointed segments, bright yellow in hue. It is 
exceedingly showy, and shorter in stature than 
T. g. spathulata. Mr. Barr recommends the 
two for planting together for effect. T. macrospila 
betrayed itself by its beautiful perfume even before 
we came near enough to examine closely the gay 
crimson-scarlet flowers with their characteristic 
central blotch, round which runs a yellowish margin. 
As it is grown at Long Ditton this appears to be of 
dwarf and compact habit. Very distinct is T. viridi- 
flora, and rather pretty also, with the green-hued 
flowers margined with clear yellow. We were too 
late to see T. acuminata and T. Greigi in all their 
glory, but we were informed that a considerable 
stock of them is kept and that they do very well. T. 
persica stands the drought exceedingly well and is 
especially suitable for growing in exposed places on 
rockeries, etc. It is only a few inches in height and 
has leaves much reflexed, linear lanceolate in shape 
and margins somewhat waved. The flowers are 
perfectly stellate and bright yellow in colour. T. 
batalina is also very dwarf. The normal colour of its 
flowers is soft canary-yellow but it is inclined to 
sport and occasionally throws red or salmon flowers, 
in which, however, no flaming or feathering is 
observed. The segments of the perianth are ovate 
in shape and have acute apices. T. linifolia is also 
very distinct. The leaves are linear, and the flowers 
bright scarlet with a dark base. The perianth seg¬ 
ments are rather narrower than those of 
T. batalina. T. Hageri has a campanulate 
perianth. The segments are brick-red in colour and 
have a dark basal blotch. With the beautiful 
Picotee with its large white perianth segments 
charmingly margined with rose we must bring to a 
close our list ere it reaches cumbrous proportions. 
If any of our readers wish for more we should advise 
them to go and see the show for themselves, when 
we are assured they will leave it as we did with 
feelings of regret, 
