HYACINTH CULTURE AT HAARLEM 159 



they begin to show earlier in hot -beds than in garden 

 borders. The slowest and latest sorts begin the earliest to 

 sprout. They are therefore purposely not planted so deep 

 in the ground, that they may get more quickly warmed by 

 sun and air, so it is quite natural that their buds should 

 pierce through earlier — but the difficulty the sap has in 

 penetrating and circulating through the very compact 

 structure of these bulbs makes it very difficult to get them 

 to flower in good time with other sorts. Growers have to 

 use their skill not only in guarding flowers which are 

 beginning to show from frost, but also from strong winds, 

 damp, and everything that can do them injury. One year 

 rats carried away and stored by hundreds in their holes the 

 bulbs in the gardens of Van Zomped at Overween, — although 

 they had a stream to cross to get at them. Growers must 

 be au fait with every possible eventuality, and must foresee 

 and prevent every possible mischief. They must know 

 exactly the time by night or day when it is proper to cover 

 or uncover their flower-beds. Their chosen blooms are 

 covered with tents of canvas, beneath which they can con- 

 veniently walk. 



Besides these tents, over the most delicately-complexioned 

 flowers little parasols are arranged. These are mounted on 

 little rods, which stick in the ground, and quite protect the 

 flowers, which last several days longer with growers who give 

 them this protection, and keep their colour better. When 

 the flowers first begin to expand, our florists (who work on 

 the principle of never watering) protect them from rain as 

 carefully as they do auriculas. When they begin to make 

 a show of blossoms they powder the sand-beds with a light 

 mould, in order to make the colours look more brilliant 

 against the dark brown background. They tie the stalks to 

 little wire rods, painted green, leaving the ties loose, so that 

 none of the blossoms are caught and broken when the flower 



