A Day in the Gardens of Haarlem. 17 



face, which is drawn up by the bulbs, and supplies them at 

 their need. With this native soil are mixed other materials, 

 making a compost bed three feet deep, one half sand, one 

 quarter rich mould, and one quarter cow-dung, three years 

 old. This compost is for hyacinths ; for tulips, one-eighth 

 cow-dung is sufficient, as they do not flower so well when 

 highly forced. The beds slope on each side towards the 

 edges, where are little trenches to carry ofi* the rain and 

 melted snow. The bulbs are planted four to six inches apart, 

 and being supplied abundantly with nourishment from the 

 rich soil and moisture, from the water below, produce full and 

 beautiful flowers. After the bloom is over, and the stems 

 decayed, the bulbs are taken up and placed on moveable 

 shelves in an apartment lined with wood. Being thus ex- 

 posed to a free circulation of air, no dampness can accumu- 

 late, and they are generally in fine condition for planting in 

 the autumn. They are then placed in the same beds from 

 which they were taken, and to which has been added anoth- 

 er layer of compost. In the winter, the bulbs are protected 

 by three or four inches of tan, leaves, or straw. 



I could easily imagine the gorgeous splendor that must be 

 presented by these acres of tulips, hyacinths, and other bulbs 

 of the most superb varieties, when at the height and perfec- 

 tion of their bloom, and much regretted that the unusual 

 lateness of the season prevented our seeing them in the full- 

 ness of their beauty. I selected, however, several hundred 

 of the finest varieties, and, as they are now carefully planted 

 in our grounds, hope next spring to show our horticultural 

 friends something really beautiful in that way. We were 

 much pleased with A. C. Van Eden. To a pleasing and 

 gentlemanly manner he unites much skill as a cultivator, and 

 much general intelligence respecting the state of horticulture 

 in Holland. 



The principal florists in Haarlem have sometimes united 

 in publishing a general catalogue of all the bulbous and tu- 

 berous rooted flowers cultivated there. This is entitled, 

 '•'•Groote Hollandsche Catalogus Van de Aller voorireffelljkste 

 Bol-Bloemen f the American reader would probably be quite 

 satisfied with the title, and not incline to go farther. In this 



VOL. xir. — NO. I. 3 



