TULIP. 433 



T U L I P. 



TULIPA. 



. 



LILIACEA. HEXANDRIA MONOGYNIA 



Tulipa, from the resemblance of the flower to the eastern head- 

 dress, called Tulipan, or Turban. Gerarde calls it Turk's-cap, or 

 Dalmatian-cap, a name more commonly given to the Martagon-lily. 

 French, la tulipe. Italian, tulipano. 



TULIPS are supposed to have been introduced into 

 England about the year 1580. The kind commonly called 

 the Garden Tulip has many varieties, which increase in 

 number every year. In 1629 Parkinson enumerates 140 

 varieties : " But to tell you of all the sorts, 11 says he, 

 " which are the pride of delight, there are so many, and 

 as I may say almost infinite, doth pass my ability, and, as 

 I believe, the skill of any other. There is such a wonderful 

 variety and mixture of colours in them, that it is almost im- 

 possible for the wit of man to decipher them thoroughly, 

 and to give names that may be true, and several distinctions 

 to every flower. Threescore several sorts of colours, simple 

 and mixed, I can reckon up that I have, and of especial 

 note ; and yet I doubt not, but for every one of them there 

 are ten others differing from them. But besides this glory 

 of variety in colours that these flowers have, they carry so 

 stately and delightful a form, and do abide so long in their 

 bravery, that there is no lady or gentlewoman of any worth 

 that is not caught with this delight. 11 One of the earliest 

 blowing varieties is the Duke Nanthol, which is in great 

 estimation, as is also the Claremond ; but it would be endless 

 to attempt enumeration : all are esteemed. The best soil 

 to plant Tulip roots in is a sandy earth, with the turf rotted 

 amongst it : some add a fourth of sea-sand. The roots 

 must be planted three or four inches deep, according to 



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