Tulip

an early flowering, bulbous plant of the lily family. The name is Persian, signifying a turban or Turk's cap, which the flowers certainly resemble. In the north tulip bulbs are set in the fall where they are desired to bloom, and are protected by several inches of litter as soon as freezing sets in. In heavy soil a handful of sand may be placed beneath each bulb. Tulips were brought to Vienna from Turkey early in the sixteenth century. Bulbs reached Holland as early as 1591. A rage for new and desirable tulips set in throughout the Netherlands, culminating in the celebrated tulip craze of 1634-38. As high as 13,000 florins, $5,000, was paid for a single bulb of a coveted strain. Holland is still the center of tulip growing. The tulip gardens of that country are valued at $5,000 an acre. Under Dutch management an acre of garden yields 66,000 bulbs a year. Growers recognize forty-two varieties. See Floriculture; Mariposa Lily