CHAP. VITI.j 
HYACINTHS® 
285 
dry sandy soil, raised on the numerous dykes 
and embankments, by means of which Hol¬ 
land has been rescued from the sea, affords 
at once a proper bed for the bulbs, and a 
soil easily penetrable by the roots; while 
the constant evaporation rising from the 
water which is every where found below the 
dykes, is just what is required for the roots® 
Even the manure most easily obtained in 
Holland is precisely that best adapted for 
hyacinths, as it is cow-dung unmixed with 
straw; and which thus contains nothing to 
induce fermentation and consequent heat. 
It is impossible in England to obtain the 
advantages so easily attainable by the Dutch, 
without incurring a very considerable ex¬ 
pence. Our soil is generally so adhesive 
that it requires to be pulverized to a very 
great depth to admit of the descent of the 
roots; and even when the soil is sandy it is 
very different from the beautiful silvery sea- 
sand, called Diinensande by the Dutch. The 
only way in which we can imitate this sand 
is by mixing nearly in equal parts what we 
call silver-sand and peat, or by growing the 
plants in silver-sand, with a very slight ad- 
