142 BITI3S AND TUBEBOtfS-ROOTED PLAHTS. 



After planting, the beds are kept clear of weeds, 

 nicely raked and made ready for covering on the approach 

 of frost, which usually occurs about the first of Decem- 

 ber. The covering is made of reeds, which grow in 

 immense quantities on the banks of the canals and 

 ditches everywhere found in Holland. The first cover- 

 ing is of the partially decayed reeds used the previous 

 season; upon these the new reeds are placed, to the 

 depth of several inches, and kept down by means of pegs. 

 When the covering is completed the beds are as neat 

 and orderly as the ones in which their owners sleep. 

 About the first of March, when frost is no longer appre- 

 hended, the covering of the beds is taken off, and the 

 surface carefully cleaned and raked, after which they 

 are watered with a mixture of cow dung and water, 

 which forms a light crust, and prevents the wind from 

 disturbing the surface of the beds. This is a necessary 

 work, as, owing to the lightness of the soil, it would 

 drift, when dry, about as freely as snow. The only cul- 

 tivation given is to keep the beds clean from weeds until 

 the time of flowering, in April. At this time the plants 

 are carefully examined, and if, by accident, there should 

 be a wrong variety in the bed, it is marked for removal. 

 There are no beds of mixed bulbs, of any class whatever, 

 grown in Holland, excepting in rare instances, where 

 specialists are growing from seed to procure new varie- 

 ties. Every variety has its name, and is grown and 

 stored in such a systematic manner that there is but 

 little chance for a bulb to get out of place. In all cases, 

 "mixtures," as quoted in dealers' catalogues, are made 

 up of equal proportions of colors, from bulbs of second 

 size, and of inferior quality. Of this more will be writ- 

 ten in treating of selection. 



After the bulbs have flowered the flower-stalks are 

 cut off, which throws the whole strength of the plant 

 into the bulb ; the flower spikes are usually thrown into 



