126 DUTCH BULBS AND GARDENS 



by the monetary value — for people pay for novelty ; the 

 rarity it is which enhances the value. However, they must, 

 besides, have other essential qualities. Gloria Mundi and 

 Francois 1st, and other blues, which used to be the only ones 

 which could at all compete with Gloria Florum Suprema, 

 have at last found their rival among the white varieties. 

 "Og Roi de Basan," "Le Comte de Provence," etc., lose 

 nothing by comparison. Some of the reds, Rex Rubrorum 

 and Mine d'Or have as many points in their favour. There 

 are now hyacinths of almost every shade. But only at 

 Haarlem are thousands of varieties and shades to be seen 

 together, and there one can feast one's eyes to one's heart's 

 content. When a new kind is raised from seed it causes a 

 great sensation. 



Saint-Simon, after expatiating at length on the endurance 

 of the hyacinth through centuries of growth, ever reproduc- 

 ing itself with renewed vigour, — showing no sign of exhaust- 

 ing the stock, says : " Cependant cet oignon si merveilleux, 

 eternel, pour ainsi dire, dans l'imagination et present aux 

 yeux pendant tant de siecles, ne dure effectivement que 

 quatre a cinq ans." 



The hyacinth is propagated by its offshoots or young 

 bulbs. It also reproduces itself from seed. From the seed 

 new varieties are produced. Hyacinth bulbs will bloom in 

 any direction they are placed, even upside down — the flower 

 will grow downwards in a vase of water. 



If you take the bulb at the moment of planting, that 

 is, when it is beginning to show the tender green point of its 

 shoot, the first thing to do is to examine if it is healthy. It 

 should be round and full, and not shrivelled ; though each 

 variety differs slightly in form, yet all should be properly 

 rounded in appearance, because this shows the bulb is in 

 good condition, nor should it be too light in weight for its 

 size. If it is, it shows it is drying up inside and is deficient 



