309 <! THE HYACINTH." 



common in our gardens prior to 1597, as Gerard does not mention them 

 as being rare in his time ; but observes, " These kinds of Jacints have 

 been brought from beyond the seas, some out of one countrey, and 

 some out of others, especially from the east countries, whereof they 

 tooke their names Orientalis." 



Jt is probable that these bulbs and many seeds of eastern plants were 

 brought to this country during the early part of the reign of Elizabeth, 

 as we find that about the year 1561 she enabled Anthonie Jenkinson 

 and others to visit Persia on a trading speculation in raw silk, &c, and 

 in which they eventually succeeded ; and Monsieur de Thou remarks, 

 that this company of the English also obtained the exclusive privilege 

 of importing all manner of foreign commodities into Russia, and by 

 this support they were encouraged to visit the several provinces of the 

 east more carefully than other nations could do. 



The cultivation of Hyacinths receives more attention, and is in higher 

 estimation with Dutch florists at present, than that of Tulips. The 

 Hyacinth is certainly a very superior kind of flower to the Tulip ; but 

 we presume that the great attention given to it by the Dutch is owing 

 to the increased demand from London and Paris, where the roots are 

 sent, in large quantities, and where, from our own observations, we con- 

 clude that nearly three-fourihs of the bulbs that are imported are lost 

 through carelessness after they have once flowered, particularly those 

 that are grown in glasses. 



It is calculated that more than a hundred English acres are occupied 

 for rearing bulbous plants, principally Hyacinths, near the village of 

 Overveen, in the neighbourhood of Haarlem, where the best growers 

 keep about 50,000 bulbs as breeders, and these florists now enumerate 

 upwards of 2,000 varieties of the Hyacinth. The list of one florist at 

 Haarlem enumerates more than 800 kinds of double-flowered Hyacinths, 

 besides about 400 varieties of the single kind. 



Peter Voerhelm was one of the earliest cultivators of the Double 

 Hyacinth, which was about the beginning of the last century. Pre- 

 viously to his time the single kind only had been propagated. This 

 florist named his first Double Hyacinth Mary ; but the kind is now lost, 

 and his third double flower was called the King of Gteat Britain, and 

 this is now the oldest Double Hyacinth known, a single bulb of which 

 used to bring the price of a thousand florins, or one hundred pounds 

 sterling ; and about seventy years back two hundred pounds was no 

 uncommon price for a single bulb of a favourite Hyacinth. At present 

 about ten pounds is the general price given for the finest bulbs, and 

 from one to ten shillings for the varied sorts; what are called the 

 common mixtures are sold from one to two pounds a hundred. 



The criterion of a fine Double Hyacinth consists in its stem being 

 strong, tall, and erect, garnished with numerous and large bells, each 

 supporied by a short and strong peduncle, or footstalk, in a horizontal 

 position, so that the whole may have a compact pyramidical form, with 

 the upper flower perfectly erect. The floweis should be large, and 

 perfectly double : that is, well filled with broad bold petals, appearing 

 rather convex than flat or hollow. The floweis should occupy about 

 one-half the length of the stem. The colours should be clear and 



