THE BULB GARDENS OF HOLLAND. 99 



Fanc}" his astonishment when he was driven to see the same tulip 

 grounds whicli he had been shown b}' dealer No. 1. The fact 

 was that neither of the two owned any of them. They were 

 owned b}' an old Dutch gardener who sold his crop annually' to 

 the local dealer who would pay the highest price. He of course 

 well knew the inwardness of all these visits, but it was for his 

 interest to sa}' nothing. 



Many of these farmers raise far more bulbs than some dealers 

 who issue catalogues, but from want of enterprise or lack of 

 education have had to depend upon their home markets. They 

 have confined themselves to raising a few leading varieties, 

 usually of Hyacinths or Tulips. Education and a knowledge of 

 English have of late become more general, and consequently in the 

 past ten years many of those who grew for the extensive Dutch 

 houses are offering their bulbs in the American and English 

 markets. This lively competition has caused a great decline in 

 prices, much to the annoyance of the wealthy old planters, who 

 for man}' years reaped a rich harvest of golden guilders unmo- 

 lested in their monopoly of the markets of the world. It must 

 be acknowledged that they still have undeniable advantages in 

 the business. They own the land best suited for successfully 

 raising the various kinds. Most of them are wealthy, and, grow- 

 ing in immense quantities, can afford to send older and better 

 matured bulbs on a large general order than mere speculators, 

 whose only claim to be extensive growers is in their advertise- 

 ments. The gardens now cultivated b}' the best growers we met 

 with in Holland havie been owned by members of the same family 

 for many years, — in some cases nearly two centuries. 



You will, I hope, pardon a word of caution here, to any who 

 may contemplate visiting Holland at some time to purchase. 

 When you get to Haarlem do not disclose much of 3'our business 

 to the first dealer you meet. If you buy largely he will exert 

 himself to the utmost to interest you. He will show you 

 how bulbs are propagated, cultivated, and cared for through 

 all the stages of their growth. After one whole da}' spent at his 

 residence, gardens, and storehouses, his carriage will be at your 

 hotel the next, before you are up, to take you to see some of the 

 sights which he informs 50U no one ever misses who has time to 

 enjoy them. In short, if he wants you for a customer he is pretty 

 sure to monopolize all your time so that no rival dealer gets a 



