60 DISEASES AND INSECTS. 



" The hyacinth is liable to seven diseases : first, the 

 white rotz ; second, the black rotz ; third, the rot ; fourth, 

 mould ; fifth, consumption, or wasting ; sixth, shrinking ; 

 seventh, excess of offsets. 



u First, The white rotz is known by a resin, which gen- 

 erally oozes from the upper part of the bulb, and also from 

 the side, about October ; and is of a hard consistency, not 

 unlike the resin that flows from trees. The white rotz also 

 assumes the appearance of a white, slimy substance, and 

 has a very unpleasant smell, which is particularly evident 

 when the bulb is cut open ; and bulbs in this state should 

 be thrown away without hesitation. The rotz has been 

 assumed to be incurable, and bulbs so affected are generally 

 thrown away : they should never be planted, as they infect 

 the ground to such a degree, that sound bulbs, planted in 

 the ground as late as three years after, become infected. 

 Where the diseased bulb is very valuable, if it is placed in 

 a place where snails abound, they will eat out the diseased 

 part, and the bulb often recovers and grows. 



" Second, The black rotz is more difficult to know than 

 the white rotz, because, as soon as the bulb is taken out of 

 the ground and kept dry, the rotz dries up also. The stool, 

 or plate, of the bulb, that is, the point from which the 



