THE BULB GARDENS OF HOLLAND. 105 



There are two methods of cutting practised to obtain a great 

 number of bulbs from one. Some scoop out the whole of the base 

 of the old bulbs and so attain their object. Others cut the bulbs 

 in two or three pieces and get an enormous number of very small 

 bulbs which will not be at their best till grown up six years. 



Hyacinth culture in Holland is by no means a pastime. They 

 require great care at every stage, particularly those which are to 

 be sold in the fall. These when lifted from the grounds are laid, 

 with roots and leaves still on, on shelves and covered with dry 

 sand for about ten days. This care is necessary to give the bulbs 

 that fine, clean appearance and thorough ri|)eness and solidity, which 

 is desirable. They are then cleaned and carried in padded bas- 

 kets to their place in the magazine. There thej' must be watched 

 and cared for, dr}^ rot or other disease often attacking them, 

 particularly after a wet spring. Most of the hyacinths leave 

 Holland in August. The}' are shipped in immense numbers to 

 Russia, Germany, France, America, and England. On account 

 of the laws regarding phylloxera, none are admitted into either 

 Ital}' or Spain. In P^ngland, they are very popular as window 

 plants. One grower for Coveut Garden Market last year planted 

 fifty thousand bulbs. With the people here they are sure to 

 be popular, when it becomes generally known that little skill 

 is required in their cultivation, if supplied with plenty of water 

 and fresh, cool air. 



Hyacinths in Holland are never allowed to freeze in the beds 

 during winter. They are covered with straw to the depth of six 

 inches and keep rooting ail winter. The climate is, of course, 

 much milder than ours, twenty degrees of frost being considered 

 Siberian weather. 



With tulips, as with hyacinths, new varieties are obtained from 

 seed. Selfs of the purest color are used for crossing, and only 

 those of the most perfect form of flower. 



All the varieties of tulips in commerce are increased by offsets. 

 A number of these are usually found at the base of each mature 

 bulb after flowering ; also one or two large flowering bulbs. 

 These flowering bulbs lie close to the stem and are usually marked 

 b}' it. In this wa}' one can almost certainly distinguish flow- 

 ering bulbs. Tulips are lifted from the bed as soon as their 

 leaves turn yellow. If allowed to stand longer the bulbs get soft 

 and the skins come off. Under some circumstances, it is neces- 



