HENDERSON'S HANDBOOK OF PLANTS. 



235 



TUL 



not go too near the bottom. 9. The color, what- 

 ever it may be, must be dense and decided. 

 Whether it be delicate and light, or bright, or 

 dark, it must be distinct in -its outline, and not 

 shaded, or flushed, or broken. 10. The height 

 should be eighteen to thirty-six inches; the 

 former is right for the outside row in a bed, 

 and the latter is right for the highest row. 11. 

 The purity of the white and the brightness of 

 the yellow should be permanent; that is to say, 

 should stand until the petals actually fall. 

 Where Parrot Tulips originated we have not 

 learned. They are ignored by those florists 

 Avho claim the right to say what is and what is 

 not beautiful. Not being bound to observe the 

 "laws" that regulate the form, shape, and 

 "perfect markings," we prize this class very 

 highly, on account of their singularly pictur- 

 esque appearance. The flowers are very large, 

 and the colors exceedingly brilliant. They are 

 unequaled for groups in mixed borders, or con- 

 spicuous places in front of shrubs. The vari- 

 eties of this class are limited, but they are, nev- 

 ertheless, particularly beautiful. 



Culture of the Tulip. The best soil for the cul- 

 ture of the Tulip is a rich, rather light, well- 

 drained loam. A bed of sufficient size for plant- 

 ing the bulbs should be dug at least twelve inches 

 deep. The Tulips should then be planted six 

 inches apart each way; pressed deep-enough to 

 keep them in their places, and covered with ; 

 mould to the depth of three inches on the sides 

 of the bed, and five inches in the center. This 

 precaution is necessary, that water may not stand 

 on the bed during the winter. When the bed is 

 planted and covered, it maybe left to the weath- 

 er until the Tulips come up, or about the first of 

 March. A slight protection of litter is then re- 

 quired, as the frost has a tendency to check the 

 bloom. Our climate is so variable cold at night 

 and hot at mid-day that it will well repay the 

 cost to cover at night and remove in the morning. 

 Leaving them covered during the day has a ten- ; 

 dency to draw them up and otherwise weaken '. 

 them. When the flowers appear, if they are 

 protected from the sun by a light canvas, the 

 period of bloom may be kept up for three or four 

 weeks. The colors are generally better if not 

 shaded at all, but in that case the bloom would 

 be soon over. Sometimes a single day's hot sun 

 would completely spoil them. When the flow- 

 ers begin to fade, they should be cut away 

 and removed from the bed. As soon as the 

 stems of the Tulip turn yellow, and the leaves 

 begin to dry, they may be taken up and put in 

 a cool, dry place. When dry, thoroughly clean 

 off the old skin and dirt, and put in paper bags, 

 ready for planting out again in October. The 

 Tulip is also now extensively forced for cut 

 flowers during the winter and spring months. ! 

 The method of culture is identical with that of 

 the Roman Hyacinth and Paper Narcissus. The i 

 only important point is to grow only the kinds j 

 known as Kindle Early, such as "Snow Flake," 

 " Marechal Neil," " Rose Queen," etc. 



Tulip Tree. See Liriodendron. 



Turmeric. See Curcuma. 



Tunica. From tunica, a coat; referring to the j 

 calyx. Linn. Decandria- Triyyaia. Nat. Ord. Gary- \ 

 ophyQaoece. 



Hardy herbaceous perennials, natives of 

 Southern Europe and Central Asia, and allied 

 to Dianthus. A few of the species have showy j 

 flowers in spring. They are increased by divi- 

 sion or from seed. 



TUR 



Tupelo. See Nyssa. 



Tupa. Tupa is the name of T. Faillei in Chili. 

 Linn. Pentandria-Monogynia. Nat. Ord. Lobdia- 

 cece. 



This is a genus of pretty plants, chiefly natives 

 of Chili and Peru. They are worth cultivating 

 on account of the beauty and singularity of their 

 flowers. They are treated and propagated like 

 the Lobelia. 



Turkey's Beard. See Xerophyllum. 



Turkish Rhubarb. See Rhubarb. 



Turnera. Dedicated by Linnaeus to the memory 

 of William Turner, Prebendary of York, Canon of 

 Windsor, etc., and author of "A New Herbal," 

 1551. Linn. Pentandria-Trigynia. Nat. Ord. Tur- 

 neracecK. 



A genus of very handsome plants when in 

 flower. Some are annuals, and others green- 

 house shrubs and herbaceous plants, with yel- 

 low flowers, some of which resemble those of 

 the Thunbergia. They should be grown in a 

 light, rich soil. They are propagated by cut- 

 tings or by seeds. Introduced from South Amer- 

 ica in 1774. 



Turnip. (See Brassica.) The field and garden 

 Turnip is supposed to have originated by long 

 cultivation of the wild Brasslca raf>a, a native 

 of Great Britain and other parts of Europe. At 

 what period it was first brought into notice in 

 its native countries, or how its improvement 

 from its native wild and useless state was 

 brought about, is entirely unknown. It was in 

 use as a vegetable before the Christian era, but 

 we have no account of its being cultivated to 

 any extent as a field crop previous to 1 300. It 

 does not seem that there was any rapid develop- 

 ment in its improvement worthy of mention by 

 the early writers previous to 1650, but from that 

 period its increase in cultivation was rapid, and 

 many new sorts are mentioned. At the present 

 day, every country adapted to its growth boasts 

 of the varieties it has produced. The Swedish 

 Turnip, or Ruta Baga, one of the best known, 

 originated from B. campestris; its varieties 

 are numerous, and generally cultivated. The 

 French Turnip is considered sweeter and freer 

 from any acrid properties than most others, and 

 is highly prized for the table. Several varie- 

 ties are designated as American, and the Pur- 

 ple and White Strap-leafed Turnips justly so, 

 but where or by whom they originated, or the 

 parentage, we are without knowledge. We only 

 know that they were long grown here previous 

 to their being known in Europe, and that they 

 have always been regarded as American varieties 

 there. A variety of recent introduction, known 

 as the White Egg Turnip, is one of the best for 

 the table. The Turnip is used both as a spring 

 and fall crop. For spring, sow as early as the 

 ground is dry enough, and for fall, in the lati- 

 tude of New York, sow Ruta Bagas in July, and 

 other varieties during the latter part of August 

 and in September, according to the kind. Seeds 

 may be sown as the ground becomes vacant. In 

 every case, when the soil is dry, firm the seeds 

 well in the soil by the feet or by rolling. 

 Turreea. Named in honor of George Turra, once 

 Professor of Botany at Padua and author of sev- 

 eral botanical works. Linn. Monadelphia-Hex- 

 andria. Nat. Ord. Meliacece. 



A genus of tropical shrubs and large trees con- 

 fined to the old world. Some of the species 

 have edible fruit, and a few are grown for the 

 beauty of their flowers. 

 Turpentine. See Pinus. 



