a Disease in Hyacinth Bulbs. 151 



ihe subject, but unfortunately it has not been ultimately attended 

 with any beneficial effects. 



We, however, know this much, that the rotz generally begins 

 in spring, when there is fine warm weather, accompanied by a 

 north wind ; because by that means the sun warms the earth 

 during the day, and it freezes again at night, which causes a very 

 unequal, and probably injurious, temperature to the hyacinths. 

 This may be easily prevented where the beds are small, because 

 they can be covered ; but how is it possible to do so to the very 

 extensive plantations of the Haarlem florists? Hedges might 

 certainly protect them against the wind, but would not protect 

 them long enough against variations of the atmosphere ; parti- 

 cularly as the soil intended for hyacinths is very easily heated or 

 cooled by the changes in the air. 



This disease is also prevalent when the bulbs are put in too 

 stiff a soil, and thereby grow too strong; but of this, and the 

 means to prevent it, we have already spoken. 



This disease also appears, and makes great devastation, while 

 the bulbs lie in the Kduil. Certainly a great deal depends upon 

 circumstances ; and as we know that hyacinths are very liable 

 to such attacks, they should be very delicatel}' handled, which 

 is not always the case. They must not be let fall, or get any 

 bruises, as either would injure them very materially. No kind 

 of litter, such, for instance, as their own leaves, &c., should be 

 suffered to be near them ; and they must be so laid in the Kduily 

 that one may not touch the other, so that the strength of any 

 of them may not be diminished. They must not be allowed to 

 be wetted by rain, or burnt by the rays of the sun. If the 

 weather is too wet or variable, they must be taken out of the 

 Kduil sooner than usual. These, and all other particulars, de- 

 pend upon circumstances; and the more these are studied, the 

 nearer will the object in view be obtained. 



This is such a contagious disease, that if one bulb in a bed 

 be attacked by it, and suffered to remain, it contaminates those 

 of the third or fourth year ; therefore the rule is, to plant 

 hyacinths, at most, only every four years on the same bed, or to 

 take out the old earth and to fill it with new, if you intend to 

 plant the bed again. 



The white rotz is quite as dangerous as the black rotz, al- 

 though the latter is more prevalent, and all bulbs so attacked 

 must be thrown away; but it is often the case that a very valu- 

 able bulb is but slightly attacked, and when that is the case, a 

 simple remedy can be applied, viz., that of laying it in a place 

 where snails abound, which are soon allured to it, and com- 

 pletely eat out all the diseased part, and leave the part that is 

 healthy. The bulbs should then be set in the sun, where they 

 will, in all probability, be cured of their disease. Some kinds 



