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HAKDY BULBS. 



CULTIVATION OF THE HYACINTH. 



In glasses. — Nearly all hyacinths are 

 suitable more or less for cultivating in 

 glasses, though, in making a selection for 

 that purpose, a larger number of single 

 varieties should be chosen, as the certainty 

 of success is much greater with them than 

 with the double kinds. In ordering, special 

 care should therefore be taken to state for 

 what purposes the bulbs may be required, 

 that proper varieties may be selected. The 

 selection being always made by persons 

 who well understand them, if such care be 

 taken and the directions stated below fol- 

 lowed out, there need be no fear as to the 

 successful result. It is the natural ten- 

 dency of all roots to grow downwards, 

 avoiding the light, consequently dark- 

 coloured glasses are preferable for the 

 growth of hyacinths. 



Let the bulbs be obtained as early as 

 possible after their importation, though 

 the time of putting them to the water 

 may range from the middle of September 

 to the end of November, the earlier how- 

 ever the better. Fill up the glasses with 

 soft clean water till it barely touches the 

 bottom of the bulb. Then stand them in 

 a dark cool cupboard or cellar for at least 

 a month, to encourage the roots to form 

 plentifully before the bloom buds appear. 

 Examine them occasionally whilst in the 

 dark, and carefully remove any part that 

 may be decayiug, at the same time not 

 injuring the young roots. Should the 

 water become foul change it, but not 

 otherwise. 



When the buds and leaves have made 

 a little growth, they should be brought 

 into the full light of a window ; if in a 

 room where a fire is kept, let them stand 

 in the window farthest from the fire ; a 

 cool place is the best for them. Never 

 under any circumstances allow them to 

 stand on the mantel-piece, a practice often 

 followed, but highly improper. 



As the flower head rises, a support 

 should be applied ; these should invariably 

 be ordered with the glasses, in order that 

 they may be at hand as soon as required. 



When coming into flower, a little 

 stimulant may be added to the water with 

 advantage. Sulphate of ammonia will be 

 found to add considerably to the intensity 

 of colour in the flower, and also to the 

 vigour of the plant — a small pinch between 

 the thumb and finger just dropped into 

 the water will be sufficient. 



In pots. — The soil should be rich, and 

 not over light ; good loam and leaf-mould, 

 with about one-fourth of well-rotted ma- 

 nure, and a liberal addition of sea, river, 

 or silver sand, would be a good compost. 

 For one bulb, pots five inches in diameter 

 at the top should be used ; three or five 

 bulbs may be planted in one large pot or 

 pan together with good effect. 



Let the pots be well drained, and the 

 soil and bulb placed in firmly, but the 

 bulb not quite covered. When potted 

 give a good watering, and plunge them in 

 any out-of-the-way place out of doors, 

 covering them with a layer of spent tan- 

 ner's bark or coal-ashes to the depth of 

 three or four inches above the top of the 

 pots. Here they may remain till they 

 are required, bringing them into warmth 

 and light according to the time they are 

 intended to flower — the less forcing they 

 have, however, the finer the flower is likely 

 to be. When brought into a room let 

 them be stood in the ivindoio. 



All hyacinths succeed well, and come 

 to their greatest perfection, when grown 

 in pots. 



In beds. — The soil for this purpose 

 should be rich, light, and deep, and above 

 all, well drained. Excavate to the depth 

 of fifteen inches, level the bottom, and 

 place on it a layer of two inches of small 

 stones, or any similar material that will 

 serve to insure good drainage. On this 

 lay a thin covering of well-decayed manure, 

 and then fill in with the prepared compost, 

 making the bed four or five inches above 

 the surrounding soil to allow for settling. 



Arrange the colours according to taste, 

 and plant the bulbs nine inches apart, and 

 three inches deep from the crown. The 

 time of planting may range from the 

 beginning of October to the middle of 

 November. 



It will be found advisable, as very 

 severe weather approaches, to cover the 

 bed with a layer of anyprotecting material. 



THE TULIP. 



Ill beds. — Prepare the bed in a similar 

 way as recommended for the hyacinth. 

 In planting, let the soil of the bed be 

 levelled ; then, with a hoe, draw drills 

 about eight inches apart and two inches 

 deep, and plant the bulbs at the bottom of 

 the drills, each five inches apart, giving 

 each a gentle pressure. Cover up the 

 bulbs by the aid of a short-toothed rake. 



