THE HYACINTH. 189 



mode as they took place between him and the Dutch 

 florists ; and as to the matter, it will speak for itself. 

 To me, at least, it appeared particularly interesting, 

 and if it fail of exciting interest here, it will be en- 

 tirely owing to my inability to do justice to the report. 

 In the successful culture of this flower the Dutch 

 florists pride themselves more than in that of any 

 other, the Tulip not even excepted, and from the 

 immense yearly sale of which they derive a consi- 

 derable profit, not only from this country, but I may 

 safely say from every state in Europe. No words 

 can express the self-complacency and satisfaction 

 which a Dutch florist feels in a fine sun-shining 

 morning in April, while exhibiting to some foreign 

 florist or traveller his spacious and richly-adorned 

 beds of this highly-perfumed flower, to him at once 

 a source of profit and of pleasure : his natural phlegm 

 and indifference seem to have vanished, and that 

 cold, reserved cast of national character to be laid 

 aside ; pleasure sparkles in his eyes, increased, no 

 doubt, by the expectation of touching some fifty or 

 a hundred of your florins. The spectacle is truly 



