THE BULB GARDENS OF HOLLAND. 101 



of planting and lifting is done by hand, without the use of tools. 

 One of the workmen usually accompanied us as we examined the 

 bulbs, and frequently scooped up with his hand in a moment a 

 row of a dozen or more hyacinths planted four inches deep. The 

 soil is in fact a fine sand, evidently stream deposits. It is 

 enriched with liberal quantities of cow dung. The light colored, 

 fine, sand}' soils are best suited for the cultivation of Hyacinths, 

 Tulips, Crocuses, and Narcissuses. Spireas, Dielj'tras, Lilies of 

 the Valley, and others of that class require the darker, heavier soil 

 also found in the vicinity of Haarlem. In order to secure healthy 

 bulbs it is found necessary to alternate crops. Thus Hyacinths 

 are usually followed by a crop of potatoes, these by a crop of 

 Tulips, then potatoes again, followed by Narcissuses or Crocuses. 

 The fine feeding roots of the potato, decaying in the soil, leave 

 there a necessary element of bulb food. All work on these gar- 

 dens is done neatlj' and systematically. The bulbs are usually 

 planted in beds of an exact width, the lines containing exactly 

 the same number of bulbs. Almost invariably the whole estab- 

 lishment bears a well cared for appeai'ance. From early summer 

 till autumn, work is begun daily at about five in the morning and 

 ceases about seven at night. Women and men are employed in 

 about equal numbers. 



A dining hall is a feature of every large establishment. To it, 

 all hands repair four times daily to partake of coffee and other 

 drinks provided b}' the employer to accompany the contents of 

 their ample lunch baskets. Sufficient time is allowed at meals, and 

 I cannot remember seeing anybod}' making much haste at any 

 time during our visit, but none were idle, and the work people 

 appeared contented and happy. Most of them live in cottages in 

 the gardens, each with a neat garden adjoining. 



The magazines for storing marketable bulbs are situated by the 

 sides of the canals, and are generally erected alongside of each other 

 and connected by broad passage ways. One of the best arranged 

 we visited had light rails laid along the passages, on which hand 

 trucks, large enough to hold about three barrels full, could be 

 driven easil}' by hand to any part of the buildings. Thus as the 

 boats arrived from the grounds the baskets of cleaned bulbs were 

 lifted from the boats on to the trucks, which when loaded are 

 pushed along the rails to the place where they are to lie till 

 packed for shipment. Sorted Hyacinths are all kept in one sec- 



