May *5, Me. J' 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
489 
him a good wage to command his services, and pave the way for 
a profitable enterprise. 
A L.\rge Bulb Farm. 
If the title of these papers is to remain seasonable further 
remarks on bulbs must be hastened, for spring is fast merging into 
summer, and spring flowers will soon be out of date for the present 
year. A few notes shall be devoted to one or two important farms 
of special interest to cultivators in this country. The names of 
the great wholesale firms would be unfamiliar to all except trades¬ 
men, but that of Messrs. Ant. Roo 2 en & Son is well known, and 
others are springing up to whom reference may be made. Messrs. 
Roozen’s business is of enormous magnitude, and it is confined 
almost exclusively to this country. The father of the present 
proprietor was one of the first to see the chances of a profitable 
tr.ide being built up by direct communication with British amateur.^, 
to be reached by means of advertisements ; but it is to the present 
■energetic head that the main development of the business, which 
was commenced sixty years ago, is due. The variety of plants 
grown by them is as noteworthy as the enormous numbers of 
jpopular kinds that are cultivated. There are Hyacinths, Tulips, 
Crocuses, and Scillas for the million, and there are rare and choice 
Irids, Chionodoxas, Narcissi, &c., for flower lovers who take a 
special interest in beautiful hardy flowers. It is late now to speak 
of the early Crocus species, but it may be well to note that there is 
a most interesting and extensive collection on this famous farm. 
A few species that I saw in flower were aureus, Aucheri, Olivieri, 
■reticulatus aureus, pusillus, biflorus albus, and Leedsi, the latter 
purple with white tip, a charming little flower ; but there are 
■numerous others, and it was satisfactory to hear that the demand 
for these beautiful and valuable flowers, which bloom during 
February and March, is increasing. 
Irises, as might be expected from the important position that 
they hold amongst hardy flowers, are grown on a very extensive 
scale. There are large quantities of the more popular kinds, and 
they must present a magnificent sight when in full beauty, all the 
sections being represented by the best varieties. Nor are choicer 
^varieties absent. Apart from the ordinary customers buying 
Hyacinths and Tulips for greenhouses and gardens, Messrs. Roozen 
have a constituency of hardy flower-lovtrs seeking novelties and 
rarities on whose behalf they are constantly adding to their collec¬ 
tions. Iris Bornmiilleri, an exquisite little species that is now 
becoming talked about, was in flower with them in the open ground 
in the middle of February. It grows but 3 inches high, and has 
flowers of a clear buttercup yellow—beyond question a beautiful 
gem that must be in the collection of everyone making a specialty 
of this valuable family of hardy flowers. Another useful little 
•species flowering at the same time was Kolpakowskiana, growing 
4 inches high, standard lilac, falls brown, with yellow centre. Iris 
reticulata is, of course, well known. Very large quantities of this 
sweet and beautiful flower are c iltivated, and there was a grand 
•display of it at the time of my visit. 
It would be unseasonable at this date to dwell on the many 
interesting flowers that were open then, but it may be said that 
■there are few periods of the year when something would not be 
found on this farm to repay a visit. Herein lies the difference 
between it and the establishments that surround it. These grow¬ 
ing acres of Hyacinths, Tulips, Crocuses, and Scillas to supply the 
English trade, and dealing but little in choicer plants, are flooded 
with colour for a few weeks, and the display of bloom is unsur¬ 
passed in richness and diversity ; when, however, this marvellous 
■flush of beauty has passed the annual scene has ended, the curtain 
falls, and the quiet routine of culture goes on. In the great retail 
establishments, the home of bulbous and tuberous flowers in- 
.numerable, the display is uninterrupted during the greater part of 
the year. In Messrs. Ant. Roozen’s 60 acres of flowers the great 
families of Irises, Gladioli, Liliums, and others are in themselves 
a source of deep interest from the number and merit of the species 
and varieties represented, while Anemones, Crocus and Tulip 
species. Ranunculuses, Narcissi, Cyclamens, Begonias, Hellebores, 
Pseonies, and other equally important plants are represented 
largely. No visitor to Haarlem should return without passing by 
the canal side to Overveen, a short walk, in which it will be ample 
■to mention the name of Ant. Roozen should any doubts as to the 
route arise. The present head of the firm, a man of remarkable 
business ability, is full of courtesy to visitors interested in his 
flowers. He is not displeased if a foray among the acres of 
flower beds is followed by a request to inspect the new ware¬ 
houses. These have a storing capacity for bulbs of many thou¬ 
sands of square feet, arc fitted with every mechanical aid to 
<irying, cleaning, and packing, even to a type case and press for 
printing the labels for the bulbs, alt of which is done on the 
premises, and the inevitable canal close by affords facilities for-the 
conveyance of goods by means of barges. Although not a part 
of the flower lover's object in paying his visit, he cannot help 
being interested in those splendid buildings, so necessary to the 
preparation and distribution of the bulbs, tubers, and roots 
grown and sold in such enormous numbers by this old-established 
firm. 
In another issue a few final remarks will be devoted to one 
or two other interesting farms devoted to bulb culture in the 
neighbourhood of Haarlem.—W. P. Wright. 
(To be continued.) 
CYTISUS SCOPARIUS VAR. ANDREANUS. 
New varieties of flowering shrubs are far too scarce, and when 
novelties like that now under notice are meritorious in an exceptional 
degree they are sure to become favourites. Few plants are so well 
known as the common Broom, for both here and on the Continent it is 
very abundant, and its bright golden flowers are produced in such pro¬ 
fusion as to render the plant extremely beautiful. It does not vary 
much, however, except in the size of the flowers, and some trifling 
differences may be noticed in the shade of yellow, but the variety re¬ 
presented in fig. 64 must have been a great surprise to its finder, 
M. Andr6. The flowers are about the ordinary size, the colour being a 
bright yellow with the exception of the “ alas ” or “ wings,” which are 
of a rich reddish brown, contrasting admirably with the other portion 
of the flower. Being equally free in growth and flowering with the 
typical Broom, it cannot fail to be useful, and the stock seems to be 
plentiful, as it has been mostly increased by grafting. The origiral 
