122 DUTCH BULBS AND GARDENS 



Art — Art, for Saint-Simon is persuaded that the hyacinth 

 has become what it is principally through cultivation, and 

 without human patience and perseverance — if nature had 

 been left entirely alone — a much less pleasing and exquisite 

 flower would have appeared. 



Every year new varieties are developed, and hope springs 

 eternal in the breast of the cultivator. Haarlem, the 

 Paradise of Flowers, may be especially described as the 

 home of the hyacinth. 



Upon his arrival at Haarlem, the stranger is so dazzled 

 with the spectacle of the wonderful and brilliantly coloured 

 carpet spread before his eyes, that he does not at first 

 realise there is yet further joy to be found in the singular 

 beauty of certain species and varieties taken individually. 



There he sees acres of hyacinths, double and single, in 

 uninterrupted ranges of pure colour ; the only intervals 

 between the rows being the little grey sand paths, to 

 enable the cultivator to reach the flowers. 



It is difficult for the imagination to picture a piece of 

 earth so brilliantly enamelled with flowers, and yet such 

 variety and beauty in detail. The rarest and finest speci- 

 mens are put apart from the rest in chosen spots, and these 

 again are arranged in symmetrical order, with such taste 

 and so unsullied and trim, that one can hardly believe 

 Nature has been allowed any hand at all in the arrangement. 

 The florist's art seems to have triumphed almost too com- 

 pletely. Well, one may say the florists of Haarlem have 

 played the predominant part, and their long experience, 

 aided by the succours of reason, have shown them how to 

 assist Nature by seconding her efforts, and thus to raise 

 her to a stage beyond herself. In any case, the flowers 

 they cultivate seldom reach such a high state of develop- 

 ment elsewhere. However active and industrious they may 

 be, no amateur, with all his talents, has ever reached to 



