
 <S" 
 
n 
 
-REMA.RKS- 
 
 ON THE 
 
 CULTIVATION OF DUTCH BULBS AND PLANTS, 
 
 — AND — 
 
 SUGGESTIONS WHICH MAY BE OF INTEREST TO ALL AMATEURS. 
 
 WITH COMPLIMENTS OF 
 
 ANT. ROOZEN & SON, 
 
 (Established 1832,) 
 
 BULB-G-ROWERS, 
 ^ OVERVEEN (near Haarlem), HOLLAND. 
 
 DE VEER & BOOMKAMP, 
 
 (Successors to J. A. DE VEER,) 
 Sole Agents for the XJnited States and Canada, 
 
 19 BROADWAY, NEW YORK. 
 
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the Year 1885, 
 
 By DE VEER & BOOMKAMP, 
 
 In the Office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington, D. C. 
 
As soon as you receive the bulbs, and have no opportunity 
 to plant them at once, open every package and place them in a dark, cool and dry cellar or closet 
 until needed. Slllbs or plailts received in Spring should immediately be planted, except 
 "Gladioli," which should not be put out in the North until 3Iay. 
 
 OUT-DOOR PLANTING. 
 
 The best time for planting Fall Bulbs out-doors in the Northern States and 
 Canada is from September until November, as long as the ground can be worked. 
 For the extreme Southern States we would advise late planting, and we found that 
 Hyacinths, Due Van Tholl Tulips, and other bulbs can be grown to perfection in 
 Florida, Alabama, 31ississippi, Louisiana and Southern Texas when planted 
 in the latter part of December. 
 
 All varieties of "Hyacinths," "Tulips," " Crocusses, ' " Single Narcissi," 
 and "Lilies "are perfectly hardy as far North as Canada, if treated as follows: They 
 prefer a sandy, well-drained soil, and if the ground is hard clay or peat, it has to be well mixed 
 with sand and old cow manure. If not very old, horse manure will injure bulbs, and should 
 never be used. When the ground is rich it is better not to use any manure whatever, but simply 
 to work the ground thoroughly before planting. 
 
 Put the bulbs deep enough so that the tops are covered with at least three inches of soil; this 
 
 rule applies to all bulbs, except "Polyanthus Narcissi " and "Gladioli," which 
 have to be covered with four; and " Lilies, ' with, at least, six inches of soil. 
 
Plant " Hyaciuths," "Narcissi" and " Lilies " from five to eight, "Tulips," 
 four, and " Cl'OCUSSes " three inches apart (from bulb to bulb), other sorts accordingly. 
 
 After planting, rake the beds smooth, and leave them until the first heavy frost sets in, when 
 the beds must be covered with straw, salt hay, jneadow hay, or leaves. 
 
 Manure should never be used for this purpose, as it is liable to heat and force the bulbs in 
 growth before the proper season. Mice will often seek shelter under the covering, therefore do 
 not put it on until the ground is frozen hard, so they cannot dig down and destroy the bulbs. 
 
 One of our correspondents gave his successful experience with the following remedy to pro- 
 tect Tulips and CrocUSSeS (Hyacinths and other bulbs are never touched by vermin) 
 from moles and mice. 
 
 " Before planting apply a thin coating of tar to each bulb;" this same remedy is useful for 
 farmers to protect their corn. 
 
 Ranunculus and Anemones should not be planted in the North until Spring, 
 about the latter part of April or beginning of May. They prefer a rather loamy or stiff soil 
 and a sunny situation. They should be plantetl about two inches deep and five inches apart. In 
 the South they must be planted in November or December, and will bloom there about 
 the same time as the Hyacinths. If the ground is dry at the planting season, it is advisable 
 to soak the roots of Anemones and Ranunculus in water of about 70 degrees temperature 
 for five or si.x hours. They must be planted immediately after taking them out of the water. 
 
POTTING. 
 
 Mix one-third sand, one-third old cow manure, one-third loam and leaf mould, to be had 
 from any florist, or prepare some good garden soil, running it through a sieve; fill four inch or 
 five inch pots half full, press the bulb softly in and fill the pot solid within half-an-inch of the 
 rim, to leave room for watering. 
 
 We usually plant in a pot one Hyacinth ; of Tulips, 3; Crocusses, 5; Narcissi, 
 and other bulbs, according to their size. Give the pots a little watering and place them in a cool 
 cellar for from four to six weeks (as they may be needed), when the bulbs are rooted^and may be 
 brought in the room or greenhouse, where they must be kept in an almost dark place until the 
 bloom is ready to burst forth, when they may be put gradually into light. The temperature 
 should never be higher than 70 degrees. The finest Hyacinths we ever saw in New 
 York were forced under the bench in a greenhouse and had never been touched by sunshine. 
 
 HYACINTHS AND OTHER BULBS IN WATER. 
 
 We seldom have nature and art more perfectly combined than in growing a Hyacinth on 
 glass. It is very simple to get them to perfection, and yet many fail by lack of knowledge and 
 experience. Fill the Hyacinth glasses with pure water, as far as the neck, place the bulbs in 
 them, and fill the glasses so that the base of the bulb just touches the water. Then put them 
 away in a dark, cool closet or cellar, and see every day or two that the base of the bulb keeps 
 touching the water and fill the glasses accordingly. Change the water every week, but do not 
 lift the bulb off the glass, as the tiny glass-like roots are easily broken, and this would injure the 
 
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 flowering qualities of the Hyacinth. Raise the bulb a little so as to be able to pour the water 
 gently out, and fill it at once with fresh water. 
 
 Keep them in a cool place and perfect darkness until the roots touch the bottom of the glass 
 when they may be brought in a dark place in the greenhouse or sitting room and gradually 
 exposed to light. Care must be taken to keep the glasses filled with fresh water, and a little 
 table salt added to it will benefit the flower. It is useless to attempt to grow them in a room 
 where, during the Winter, a continuous dry temperature of 80 degrees is kept; this is injurious to 
 bulbs and plants as well as to mankind. 
 
 Many Americans will have wondered in Winter what kind of flowers the Celestial 
 Liauntlryilien have in their windows, grown in basins, with stones and filled with water. 
 This is the Holy Flower of the Chinese, and blooms in their native country about on 
 Xew Year's tlay. The successful flowering of this bulb gives them the assurance of a 
 profitable year; if it fails to bloom John Chinaman puts on his mourning. It is a species 
 of Narcissus found wild in China and the Southern part of Europe, of which our 
 beautiful Polyanthus Narcissi are seedlings cultivated in Holland. The Double 
 Roman Narcissus is the double flowered Chinese species, and this one, as well as the 
 other varieties of the Polyanthus Section can be grown to perfection on water (and stones) 
 if treated like the Hyacinths. Crocusses placed in a saucer filled with water will bloom 
 splendidly under the same treatment, but must be kept in a cool room, as these bulbs cannot be 
 forced like Hyacinths or Narcissi. 
 
 All Hyacinths, most of the Sing'le Tulips, a few varieties of the double ones. 
 
Narcissi, Jonquils, Iris Persica and Scillas, can be forced in bloom for January 
 or later. The Roman Hyacinths and a few Due van Tholl Tulips can be had in 
 bloom for Christmas. Snow Drops, Snow Flakes, Grape Hyacinths and 
 
 all species of Muscari, Sec, must never be forced, but can be had in bloom early in Spring", 
 by placing them in a cold frame or greenhouse, where the temperature does not get above sixty- 
 five. For out-door cultivation we recommend for ^/le North Hyacinths, Tulips, 
 Crocusses, Lilies, Single Narcissi and all species of Hyacinthus, Tulipa, 
 Fritillaria, Gladiolus, Galanthus, Helleborus, &c., &c. Polyanthus 
 
 Narcissi are not hardy above latitude of A'eiv York City. 
 
 For the South we specially recommend Anemones, Ranunculus, all kinds of 
 Hyacinths, Due van Tholl Tulips, all kinds of Narcissi, Lilies, Fritilla- 
 ria, Amaryllis, Gladioli^ Ferraria, &c., &c. 
 
 Our SPRING CATALOGUE, issued in December, quotes those bulbs which 
 have to be planted in Spring and bloom in Summer, as for instance, Gladioli Amaryllis, 
 some Lilies, and miscellaneous plants and roots. 
 
 Our FALL CATALOGUE, published in May, gives a most complete list of Hya- 
 cinths, Tulips, Narcissi, Crocusses, and so many more popular bulbs, which should 
 beautify our homes in Winter, and when planted in Fall will embellish our garden in early 
 Spring with the loveliest flowers. 
 
 " Frail as the clouds, 
 But, in their coloring, gorgeous as the heavens." 
 
In conclusion would advise customers to send their orders as early as possible on receipt of 
 Catalogue in order to secure the best selection and an early delivery. 
 
 Spring or clem should he in the hands of our Agents before March 
 Ist, Fall orders before July 15th, as it takes about six weeks after receipt of the 
 order by our agents for the goods to arrive in New York, and consequently our season closes 
 about a month earlier than with American dealers. 
 
 As Spring commences very early in Europe, we are enabled to deliver plants, &c., in March, 
 which is of great advantage to our Southern friends, who, when ordering from Northern growers, 
 often have to wait until late in April before goods can be obtained. Our goods were in the 
 hands of Southern customers, last season, a month before Nurserymen in the North could ship 
 anything. 
 
 All applications and correspondence should be addressed to our agents, 
 
 DEVEER & BOOMKAMP, 
 
 (Successors to J. A. 1>E VEER,) 
 
 19 Broadway, New York, 
 
 who are always willing to answer all inquiries made in regard to treatment and cultivation of 
 
 these popular bulbs, to encourage the love and taste for these exquisite flowers for which Holland 
 
 is justly world-renowned. 
 
 Very faithfully yours, 
 
 ANT. ROOZEN & SON, 
 
 OVERVEEN (NEAR HAARLEM) HOLLAND. 
 
TBADE MARK. 
 
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 PRESS OF HOHAOE HOLDEN, 82 WILLIAM ST., N Y.