HYACINTH CULTURE AT HAARLEM 165 



therefore it is necessary to take care to examine them 

 thoroughly in order to prevent contagion. The nature of 

 these diseases and- their cause is not yet known. The best 

 remedy is amputation of the diseased parts, and many growers 

 remove everything that has the least appearance of decay. 

 The great art (and experience alone can teach this) is to 

 know how to dry the cut wound without exhausting the 

 sap in the bulb, and to know just the time to put it back in 

 earth, — the earlier it is done and the more carefully the 

 operation is performed the more likely the bulb will be 

 saved. The most common disease is an outlet of sap 

 between the tunics. Another is produced by small green- 

 flies, which are probably deposited as eggs. Green-fly and 

 centipedes are the most commonly to be seen. Bulbs left 

 for a long time in the same place are sure to contract 

 diseases — this is one of the chief reasons why growers are 

 for ever changing them (even the common sorts), and are 

 always renewing the soil or putting the flowers in different 

 places alternately with others. When the growers are ready 

 to replant, their bulbs, they clean them again, taking away 

 the outer red skin or tunics, which are now dried up, and 

 keeping those adhering to the bulb, for it would be harmful 

 to a degree to take them away. They put aside the young 

 bulbs which are strong enough to be separated from the 

 parent bulb. The method of planting again has been 

 described. I must add that show-beds should be chosen in 

 sunny spots. Hyacinths cannot bear to be in the shade, and 

 they must not be put under trees ; but as they also suffer 

 from wind, it is a good thing to have trees not far off 

 to break the wind. 



In conclusion, it would be a good thing if amateurs 

 were not quite so prodigal with their bulbs. They 

 grow them in pots or in glass during the winter, 

 and it is usually their custom, when the flowers are dead, 



