FLOWER-GARDENING. 59 



Hyacinths, and six hundred of Ranunculuses and Anemones, 

 some of which are sold as high as sixty dollars the single root. 

 It is stated in the travels of Mr. Dutens, of his having known 

 ten thousand florins, equal to $4,000, refused for a single Hya- 

 cinth ; and Dodsley says, in his Annual Register for 1765, that 

 the Dutch of all ranks, from the highest to the lowest, during 

 the years from 1634 to 1637 inclusive, neglected their business 

 to engage in the Tulip trade. Accordingly in those days the 

 Viceroy was sold for 250, the Admiral Lie/keens for 440, 

 and the Semper Augustus at from 500 to 1,000 each; and 

 a collection of Tulips was sold by the executors of one Wouter 

 Broekholsmentser for 9,000. It is stated that in one city in 

 Holland, in the space of three years, they had traded for a 

 million sterling in Tulips. 



DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BULBOUS ROOTS AND HYACINTHS. 



" The Hyacinth, purple, white, and blue, 

 Which flung from its bells a sweet peal anew, 

 Of music so delicate, soft, intense, 

 It was felt like an odor within the sense." 



It may here be necessary to define the difference between 

 bulbous and tuberous roots. Those designated bulbous have 

 skins similar to Onions, or the Allium tribe ; and tuberous 

 roots imply all such as produce tubers something similar to 

 Potatoes. 



The soil for bulbous and tuberous roots in general should be 

 light, and yet capable of retaining moisture ; not such as is liable 

 to become bound up by heat, or that, in consequence of too 

 large a portion of sand, is likely to become excessively hot in 

 summer ; but a medium earth between the two extremes. As 

 many city gardens do not contain a natural soil of any depth, 

 a suitable compost should be provided in such cases, which 

 may consist of equal parts of sand, loam, rotten manure, 

 mould, etc. 



When ready, the beds may be laid out, from three to foui 

 feet wide, and they should be raised two or three inches above 



