HAARLEM. i 09 



many of our own countrymen arc exerting themselves for 

 the removal of the few remaining disabilities to which Ro- 

 man Catholics are subjected in the British Islands. 



We have to add, that a very distinct account of the Dutch 

 mode of cultivating buibous-rooted plants, may be found 

 in the Scottish work already referred to in a preceding 

 page (p. 187.), entitled " The Scots Gardener's Director,'* 

 by James Justice, F. R. S., published at Edinburgh in 

 1754. Mr Justice had twice visited Haarlem before that 

 period, with the express view of making himself acquaint- 

 ed with the Dutch methods of cultivation. The directions 

 which he gives for the culture of bulbs, and particularly 

 for the preparation of a suitable compost, are accurate and 

 judicious ; and to the neglect of the rules which he has so 

 well laid down, may, in a great measure, be ascribed the 

 very general want of success in this branch of horticulture 

 in Scotland, for a number of years past. He mentions 

 that the " oriental hyacinth"" was his " peculiar favourite ;*" 

 and informs us, that he not only completely succeeded in 

 preventing the imported bulbs from degenerating, but 

 " raised many of these fine flowers, of incomparable beau- 

 ty, from seeds saved in his own garden near Edinburgh,*' 

 — Crichton, situate to the southward of Dalkeith. The 

 excellent florists of Lancashire, Cheshire, and York- 

 shire, have produced many beautiful seedling tulips ; but 

 hyacinth culture is there accounted so difficult, that they 

 seem to resign it in despair, — hyacinths never appearing in 

 their flower-shows nor prize-lists. It is somewhat curious, 

 therefore, that not only the management of old bulbs, but 

 the raising of seedling hyacinths, should have been carried 

 to perfection in Scotland seventy years ago, and that this 

 art should now in a great measure be lost in the country 

 Mr Justice treats much more fully of hyacinths than of tu- 



