270 THE FLORAL WORLD Ai!^D GARDEN GUIDE. 



required. Por amateurs, who do not go into bulb-growing largely, 

 this is the best way. Naturally enough, the flowers are finer, and 

 last longer in perfection, than those subjected to hard forcing. 



Cultivation in Glasses. — Very few words will explain this 

 interesting and elegant way of growing them for indoors. The 

 glasses have a much prettier appearance than pots, but the flower- 

 spikes are never so good. To sum up the necessary details quickly, T 

 will just observe that the glasses should be filled with rain-water, to 

 within a distance of the rim that will admit the bulb being placed in 

 its proper position, so that its base shall be quite close, without 

 actually touching its surface, until the roots get into action, when 

 this precaution is unnecessary. The glasses will require filling, in 

 proportion to the quantity taken up by the plant. The water will 

 only require changing when it has a disagreeable smell, and becomes 

 oftensive. After the bulbs are placed in their proper positions, the 

 glasses should be placed in a cupboard until the top begins to push, 

 and the glass full of roots. This will generally take place in about 

 a month or six weeks. After this stage they will be required to be 

 brought into the light, keeping them in a dark corner of the room 

 for a few days, and finally bringing them into the full light of the 

 window, where they must remain. Give a little air, whenever 

 practicable, and remove from the window in sharp, frosty weather, 

 to prevent their getting frozen. The kind of glass I must leave 

 to the tastes of my readers ; but see that supports are fur- 

 nished with them, to keep the flower-spikes from swaying to 

 and fro. 



CuLTTJEE OUT OF DooES. — I could dismiss this with a very 

 few words, and say, treat them as our Editor does. He grows them 

 in pots, and plunges in beds of cocoa refuse just as they are bursting 

 into flower. I regret that the whole of the readers of the Floeal 

 "WoELD could not see the large jardinet in his garden, as I saw it 

 several times through the last spring, furnished as it was full to 

 repletion, with magnificent spikes of this beautiful flower. There is 

 no mistake but what I fully appreciated the honour conferred upon 

 me, by being allowed to have a peep at them, and have considered 

 myself a very enviable person ever since. Beds intended for 

 hyacinths should be dug deeply, and have a good dressing of manure 

 directly the summer occupants come ofl". Light or sandy soil is 

 best, but heavy soil can be easily corrected by the addition of a 

 dressing of leaf-mould and river sand. Three to six inches is a good 

 depth for planting the bulbs. A dressing of three or four inches of 

 leaf-mould or cocoa-nut refuse over the surface will assist to protect 

 them from spring frost as they begin to push towards the surface. 

 I generally secure the spikes to neat sticks, to prevent the wind and 

 rain beating them all out. Considering their beauty, and the length 

 of time they remain in good condition, they fully deserve the little 

 trouble this operation occasions. 



After glancing thus briefly at the various cultural details, which 

 I have found necessary to observe, after many years' close acquaint- 

 ance with them, I will turn my attention to a selection of the best 

 kinds. I should properly speak in the plural, for I intend making 



