Bizarres

Bolivar (Lawrence's); Carlo Dolci; Catafalque Superieure; Duke of Wellington; Emperor of Austria; Jubilee (Rider's); Sir Sidney Smith, alias Magnum Bonum, Trebi-sonde, Demetrius, and Franklin's Washington; Osiris; Prince Albert (Groom's). - Gard. Chron.

It will be observed, that tulips are divided into different classes, and as the characteristics of these, as well as some other terms applicable to these flowers, may not be understood by all readers, they are here defined.

Florists call tulips seedlings until they have bloomed; after this those preserved on account of their good form and habit, as well as the offsets they produce, are called breeders. After some years the petals of these become striped, and they are then said to be broken. If the striping is good, they are said to have a good strain; if it be inferior, they are described as having a bad strain. A rectified tulip is synonymous with a tulip having a good strain.

A feathered tulip has a dark-coloured edge round its petals, gradually becoming lighter on the margin next the centre of the petal; the feathering is said to be light, if narrow; heavy, if broad; and irregular, if its inner edge has a broken outline.

A flamed tulip is one that has a dark-pointed spot, somewhat in shape like the flame of a candle, in the centre of each petal.

Sometimes a tulip is both feathered and flamed.

A Bizard tulip has a yellow ground, and coloured marks on its petals.

A Byblomen is white, marked with black, lilac, or purple.

A Rose is white, with marks of crimson, pink, or scarlet.

Characteristics Of Excellence

A tulip, however coloured, should be composed of six petals, three outer and three inner, which should be alternate, and lie close to each other; broad and round on the top, quite smooth, and of sufficient width to allow the edges to lie over each other when fully expanded. They should be firm in texture, having a slight swell towards the lower part of the midrib of the petal, which will enable it to retain its shape; this in a fully expanded flower should be semi-globular, the stalk being inserted in the pole, which should be a little depressed. The petals should be level on the top, the inner three of the same height as the outer; the latter should not be bent back, as is the, case in some flowers. The colour of the ground should be pure and rich, the base of the petals without stain, and the yellow ground should possess the same intensity of colour on the outer as on the inner side of the flower. In the three principal classes, namely, roses, bizards, and byblomens, the colours should be brilliant, and well defined. In Mr. Groom's opinion, the feathered flower is most preferable; the feathers 38 should commence at the bottom of each petal, the deepest marking being on the top, and equal in every one.

The flamed flower should likewise possess this feather; with a rich beam up the rib of each petal, branching off on either side, touching the feather, and at the same time preserving sufficient of the ground colour to show it to advantage. A flame without a feather, in general, presents a star-like appearance, which, though not so correct as the other, is still beautiful. The stem should be elastic, neither too tall nor short for the size of the flower, and sufficiently strong to keep itself erect without support. The edge of the petals should be unbroken, their greatest width near the top, which would prevent all quartering (a term which in reality means dividing in four), whereas the tulip parts into six, and it would be better in Mr. Groom's opinion if sextalizing, or some more proper term were substituted - Gard. Chron.

Soil And Situation

The best soil is formed of good turfy loam from a pasture. Some very old cow-dung, say two years old, and road scrapings, in the proportions of three or four barrow-fuls of the loam to one of the others. The best aspect is south-west; the beds should be upon an open space, eight yards at least from any wall, to avoid the reflection of the sun. The soil should be free from manure, rich, and rendered light by well working it. - Gard. Chron.