THE CULTIVATION OF HYACINTHS IN HOLLAND. 



57 



Hyacinths can be forced very well in rooms. They will grow 

 without much light and air, and the time for flowering is 

 governed by such a mighty law that very cold or warm weather 

 does not seriously affect it. Much food flowering Hyacinths do not 

 want. They have already a good portion of food present in the 

 bulb when exported. When left too long out of the ground they 

 will make growth, even when on shelves ; and the fact that 

 they do just as well in clear water as in pots is a proof that they 

 have a large reserve of food contained in them. 



Hyacinths cannot, however, be kept over a year when they 

 have not flowered. The food which the bulb contains does not 

 last longer than January, as bulbs planted after that period die 

 as a rule, and produce nothing whatever. 



At the present time there are about 570 English acres of 

 Hyacinths under cultivation in Holland, and at least 5,000 men 

 (labourers and dealers) are engaged in this branch of the Dutch 

 flower-trade. 



The Dutch people do not fear competition in the cultivation 

 of Hyacinths, so sure are they of the many privileges which 

 nature has given them in dealing with this particular industry. 



I will not dwell long on the subject, how to treat bulbs in 

 pots or in glasses ; for in the matter of forcing Hyacinths the 

 English nurserymen can nowadays very well give a lesson to the 

 Dutch. I would only wish to say that to keep the soil mode- 

 rately damp is one of the first necessities, as during the growth 

 of the bulb it requires a great supply of moisture. It is not 

 wise to force Hyacinths too early, as this can only be done at the 

 price of obtaining a small flower. When in glasses, one-fourth 

 of the bulb must be in the water, and sufficient care must be 

 taken that there is always enough water to touch the bottom of 

 the root. Complaints are sometimes made of decayed flowers, 

 and of shoots flowering in the sheath of the leaves ; in both cases 

 it is want of care in treatment that makes them come in such a 

 poor state, as every healthy bulb treated with a little skill will 

 give no difficulty to bring it into the desired condition. It is, of 

 course, of great importance to secure those bulbs which are 

 thoroughly ripe and of sufficient age. Although every healthy 

 bulb contains a flower, large or small, it yet can make an 

 enormous difference whether they are obtained from reliable and 

 careful growers or not. 



