96 THE SEED-GROWER. 
Besides in California, flowers also grow to great per- 
fection in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Arizona, and in 
fact in the entire Pacific coast section. 
BULBS. 
Bulbs to be merchantable should be full-grown, not 
too young, and must be large and handsome in size. 
Such, besides being sure to bloom, generally produce 
the finest flowers in the greatest profusion. A bulb 
will flower poorly or not at all, if it be too young or 
not fully matured; and it will rot quickly, or not stand 
transportation if not properly cured. 
Most varieties require at least three seasons from off- 
sets or bulblets before they will be sufficiently matured 
to be marketable. For illustration, take the hyacinth. 
In its case, as described hereafter under hyacinth, from 
four to six seasons of growth are required to produce 
the finest bulbs, which should measure from 8 to 10 
inches in circumference. The particular and minute 
care bestowed by the Hollanders in the production of 
hyacinth and other bulbs is recommended to all who 
engage in bulb-growing. 
At present, practically all the fall planting bulbs 
used in America, as well as in other parts of the world, 
are grown in Holland, which country for many genera- 
tions has enjoyed a monopoly of the business. These 
bulbs include the hyacinth, tulip, narcissus, crocus, 
iris, etc., of which the annual importation in our coun- 
try totals many tens of thousands of dollars. The Hol- 
land bulb land consists of about 5,000 acres, valued at 
$3,000 to $4,000 per acre. Nevertheless, this expensive 
land earns a net annual profit of 16 per cent. from the 
growing of bulbs. The nearest to the Holland soil as 
well as the climate, as yet discovered in the United 
