190 THE HYACINTH. 



grand and magnificent; the order and arrangement 

 admirable; and the fragrance powerful. Rows of 

 red and yellow ; purple and white of various shades 

 follow in succession; and whole acres are covered 

 with an immense mass of bloom. 



( Can you produce anything equal to this in Eng- 

 land ? ' demanded Mynheer Bloemist, with a smile 

 of exultation ; adding at the same time, ( you should 

 study and adopt our method of cultivation.' My 

 friend returned for answer, ' I fear your most ap- 

 proved mode of culture would not avail us much in 

 England, without your soil and saline atmosphere, 

 both of which seem so suitable and congenial to the 

 growth of this flower.' 



' Your observation is good,' replied Mynheer ; 

 ' but do not infer from thence that our care and 

 culture are nothing, or that our pains to improve the 

 soil is attended with no expense or trouble.' 



e Your soil,' resumed my friend, ' has been de- 

 scribed to me as belonging to that sort which is 

 called alluvial namely, a mixture of mud, sand, 

 and other earths, which is generally left and depo- 



