370 FLORA DOMESTICA. 



TULIP. 



TULIPA. 



LILIACE-E. 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," says he, 

 " which are the pride of delight, they 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 di- 

 stinctions 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." 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 enumera- 

 tion : all are esteemed. The best soil to plant Tulip roots in 

 is a sandy earth, with the turf rotted amongst it : some add 



