THE CULTIVATION OF HYACINTHS IN HOLLAND. 



50 



yet retains moisture without getting too wet. In case of want of 

 rain there are plenty of canals and ditches which prevent the 

 gardens from drying up too much. 



Formerly a Dutch bulb farmer occupied his grounds once 

 every three years, but nowadays he is obliged to plant his garden 

 every other year in such a way that he divides it into two parts ; 

 when one portion is used for Hyacinths, he has an opportunity 

 for digging and manuring the other portion. He only uses cow- 

 manure and plants potatoes first, as he says the manure must in no 

 case be too fresh. Beed-grass is used as cover, and this is taken 

 off gradually as the Hyacinths show themselves above the ground. 



The best time for planting is the end of September, but 

 nowadays the stocks have become so large that planting takes 

 quite two months. The general idea is that what is planted after 

 the 1st of November is not worth much. In the middle of April 

 the plants as a rule are in flower, and after remaining a few days in 

 bloom the flowers are cut off. The plants are left in this condi- 

 tion till they are ripe for lifting, which for young Hyacinths is 

 about the beginning, and for old ones the end of June. After 

 this they are brought into the warehouses and put on shelves in 

 order to dry properly. There they rest not longer than six 

 weeks, in which time packing and exporting is finished, and as 

 soon as possible they start planting again. 



Hyacinths are exported nowadays in four different sizes — 

 {a) First-sized roots are the largest and soundest, best-shaped 

 named, bulbs, (b) Second-sized roots : sold by the name of 

 Bedding Hyacinths— named, (c) Third-sized roots : sold by the 

 name of Mixed Hyacinths, and generally packed in separate 

 colours. (77) The smallest size exported are called Miniature 

 Hyacinths, with names ; these, although they are small, will 

 sometimes produce fair spikes. 



Every bulb, even the very smallest, has to be planted and 

 lifted every year, and also a little slice of the top is cut off before 

 planting in order to see if the bulb is diseased or not. 



The flowers, having no value in Holland, are often sent to 

 the English market. This, however, is considered so injurious 

 to the trade in bulbs, that measures are being taken to prevent 

 it. The fact that at last the secret has been found to extract a 

 perfume from Hyacinth flowers may add not a little to remove 

 this grievance. 



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