26 NOVEMBER. 



destruction of the roots at that period. This circum- 

 stance gave rise to the opinion, that the superiority 

 of Haerlem, in respect to the culture of this flower, 

 depended upon the nature of its soil. 



Amateur florists from other countries have been 

 induced to examine into this, and the result has been 

 a successful imitation of the Haerlem soil, by the 

 compost heretofore recommended. 



By paying a minute attention to the preparation 

 and annual removal of this compost, and to the treat- 

 ment of the bulbs, there is no reason why these coun- 

 tries should not produce as good Hyacinths from 

 seed and offsets as any other ; but where the roots 

 can be had every year from Holland, on such mode- 

 rate terms as they now can, it is scarcely worth the 

 trouble to propagate them at home ; certainly not, 

 as to sowing the seeds the great pains and patience 

 attendant on this practice, and the slight remunera- 

 tion of half-a-dozen good flowers out of a thousand 

 raised, which is considered a fortunate hit, should 

 determine us to leave it in the hands of the perse- 

 vering Dutchman. 



The Propagation by Offsets. 



May be tried, and is as follows : Take the offsets 

 from the bulbs in September, plant in October, be- 

 tween two and three inches deep, in rows on a 

 rounded bed, raised above the ground-level seven 

 or eight inches ; let the soil be sandy or mixed with 

 sand ; let it be turned eighteen or twenty inches 

 deep, and remarkably well pulverized ; protect the 

 bed from severe frost ; keep the surface stirred and 

 clean. In the fourth year you will have bulbs fit 

 to be removed to the flowering bed formed of the 

 approved compost. 



