“MAY-FLOWERING” TULIPS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22712, 26 October 1935, Page 25

“MAY-FLOWERING” TULIPS

DARWIN. COTTAGE AND BREEDER “May-flowering” is a term which applied both to the cottage section and to all the various types of tulips gathered together under the heading of late-flower-ing, as distinct from the early single and double varieties. Many attempts have been made to reorganise the classification of the late-flowering kinds, but so diverse and intermingled are the various types that all of them have failed to separate the almost innumerable varieties into clear cut sections. From the amateur’s viewpoint, however, there >s little need to worry over such trifles The old headings of cottage, Darwin and breeder are still in universal usage, and, so long as varieties for bedding schemes are carefully selected in order that thenperiod of blooming and height may correspond as closely as possible, there is, indeed, little need to differentiate between even those classes. It is worthy of note, however, that the Darwins are undoubtedly the most suitable varieties for purely formal beds. In shape they do conform to a more or less set standard. Only a few varieties differ from the accepted square-shouldered bloom in having more cup-shaped flowers, after the style of the Old English or florist tulip. Yet another merit which is common to all varieties in this section is that of really good terns. Quite a few of the cottage varieties are a little disappointing in this respect, and especially when used as cut flowers. It is in the shades of pink and mauve that the Darwins excel, for the original strain of this type was entirely confined to these colourings. Although the range lias now been extended to include almost every shade, these tones are still outstanding. That old favourite, Clara Butt, probably the most widely-grown of all tulips, is still numbered in the front rank. In size and in height it lags a long way behind some of the newer kinds, but its colouring is still unique on account of the yellow groundwork —an unusual feature in a Darwin tulip. Le Notre is another self of undoubted merit, and a taller variety, as are Princess Elizabeth and Julie Vinot and Evangeline. KING GEORGE. Of a deeper shade, which shows up to great advantage, is King George, which is. perhaps, best described as a bright shade of carmine-cerise. That is a truly magnificent flower, large and hold, and held on stems a good two feet or more in length. The inappropriately named Orange Perfection is even more brilliant in effect, but it is a decidedly smaller flower. The general effect of this variety is that of an intensely brilliant salmon-cerise, ami it can be simply described as a very much larger and greatly improved Salmon King tulip of older days. Although hardly so brilliant, Prince of

the Netherlands, a rich cherry colour, is another well worthy of a place, for it is numbered amongst the largest-flowered varieties in this section. In scarlet. City of Haarlem, Mr F. Sanders, and Professor Rawenhoif are all outstanding. Ot the three, City of Haarlem is certainly the largest-flowered, but both of the other varieties are rather taller. Professor Rawenhoif is, perhaps, the most brilliant in colour, but all are good, and can lie recommended with every confidence. Amongst the rich crimson varieties, so popular for bedding with yellow wallflowers, Eclipse is a first choice. This is one of the grandest tulips in cultivation, and the only criticism that can be offered is that it is just a trifle sombre in colouring. If something brighter is preferred, both Harry Veitcli and King Harold are available. Care is necessary in the selection of mauve and purple varieties, fpr not a few of. them are rather dull in colour, and, unless skilfully planted, may easily ruin the general effect. Euterpe and Dream are two which certainly cannot be described as dowdy, for both have more than a touch of pink in their makeup, which adds greatly to their attraction. Dream is a pale mauve, with an edging of deep violet, and Euterpe, a taller variety which is a mauve-lilac, also has an edging in a softer tone, Jubilee and The Bishop are both grand purples. The former is a deep bluish-purple. The Bishop is an aptly-named variety, as it is the identical tone of bishop’s purple, as the name implies. In yellow, there is as yet little choice, as it i.s only a few years since there were no yellows in the Darwin section. Yellow Giant, however, is a typical Darwin, and a good shade of clear golden-yel-low. THE COTTAGE TULIP. The cottage group has been described as a mixture of mercies, and it is true that many of the varieties classed under this heading bear little resemblance to each other. First of all, there is the Retroflexa type of flower, such as Avia Kennicott and Mrs Moon. These longpointed blooms, with their reflexiug petals, are the types which were so highly prized in the Orient in days of long ago. Some attempt has been made to sectionise a few varieties with even more than usually elongated petals, under the heading of lily-flowering tulips. This is not a scheme which has met with general approval, and surely serves merely to add to the existing confusion. To mention that such varieties have reflexing flowers is amply sufficient for descriptive purposes. Two other yellow varieties, both well worthy of a place, but with cup-shaped blooms, are Mrs Hooz and Walter T Ware. The former i e a giant, and a lovely shade of soft primrose. Walter T. Ware, on the other hand, is comparatively dwarf, but its colouring is unique. It is by far the deepest of all yellows, and, bedded with other dwarf varieties, such as La Merveille, Logan Rose, and Marksman, makes a striking!} l, effective show. Another popular reflexing kind is Picotee, white, with a narrow rosy edge. Lest the impression be given that yellow and pale tints are typical of cottage tulips, we may mention Gorgeous, cherryscarlet: Grand Monarque, plum-purple. Grenadier, orange-scarlet; and Scarlet Emperor, glowing scarlet. THE BREEDER GROUP. The breeders have been described as the aristocrats of the family, and those growers that count size a virtue will certainly subscribe to this opinion. They are all giants, and their shadings, for the most part in purple and bronze, are none the lees attractive for their lack of briliant colour. Louis XIV is undoubtedly the best known in this section, and its great violet-purple goblets, widely margined in bronze, make a glorious bed. Indian Chief, a coppery-orange; Dom Pedro, a unique share of mahogany-brown: Jeanne Desor, an orange-yellow, flaked and edged with scarlet; and Faust, a dark plum-purple of the very largest size, are others of high merit. —D. T. M., in Amateur Gardening.