85 HEXANDRIA. 



has been paid at Haarlem to the raising and culti- 

 vating this flower j and such has been the rage for it, 

 that from one to two thousand Dutch florins has been 

 sriven for a single root. 



At this day the Haarlem gardeners distinguish up- 

 wards of two thousand Hyacinths by name, and gene- 

 rally publish catalogues of them from year to year. 

 New varieties are annually produced, and whole acres 

 together are covered with this flower in the circuit 

 of that town only. 



These are the principal properties of a fine double 

 Hyacinth, according to the present taste of florists. 



1. The stalk should be tall, strong and upright; 

 the flowers or bells, as the florists call them, should 

 be sufficiently numerous, each suspended by a short 

 strong peduncle in a horizontal position ; the whole 

 having a compact pyramidal form, with the crown or 

 uppermost flower perfectly erect. 



2. The flowers should be large and well filled, 

 with broad bold petals, appearing to the eye rather 

 convex than flat or hollow : they should extend to 

 about the middle of the scapus, or stalk. 



3. The plain colours, which should be clear, and 

 bright, and strong, are generally preferred to pale co- 

 lours ; such as are mixed, should blend with elegance. 



The soil on which the Hyacinth succeeds best is 

 a loamy fresh rich earth, which is the character of the 

 land in the neighbourhood of Haarlem; but the finest 

 and most healthy bulbs are now produced in Flanders 

 and the Netherlands, transplanted from Haarlem; 



