HYACINTH CULTURE AT HAARLEM 127 



in sap. But to be small in size does not matter, for some of 

 the beautiful red varieties have very small bulbs, and very 

 often single hyacinths have larger bulbs than the double. 



There is a kind of double hyacinth, white with a red heart, 

 which is known by its outer tunic, which is always wrinkled 

 and defective. In spite of its appearance, by its weight and 

 form one may judge if it is in good condition. The roots 

 often grow like a crown round the base of the bulb, and the 

 space in the centre is called the " eye " of the roots. This 

 space is covered with a membrane ; and in choosing bulbs, 

 this is the part you must first examine carefully to see if 

 there are any signs of decay. There should be no marks of 

 damp or of mildew in the eye at the base of the bulb. 



When the time draws near for planting, the bulb should 

 show little swollen white points at the base where the roots 

 are to come. 



The tunics or suberous leaves (what is called skin on an 

 ordinary onion) are always covered over with a thin, dry, 

 reddish skin, which falls off after a time, but is at first 

 useful in protecting the other tunics when the bulb is in the 

 earth, for it is planted in the dampest season of the year. 

 No tunic entirely embraces the circumference of the bulb, 

 but only about two-thirds of it. The tunics are really an 

 extension (in the bulb) of the long green leaves, only the 

 part of these leaves which show green above ground fall off' 

 in the end of the year, and the base of them, which remain 

 within the bulb as tunics, spread and increase till, when they 

 are pushed by each year's growth from the centre to the 

 outside of the bulb (by the growth of new stem and leaves 

 within), they get weaker and thinner, until at last they turn 

 into the dry, red, outside skin, which finally decays and 

 falls off. 



The tunics are of the same substance as the rest of the 

 bulb (which is composed of fleshy scales), and the difference 



