Plate 533. 

 HYACINTH— GARIBALDI. 



The great annual contest in Hyacinths this year was signalized 

 by the entry of a new competitor, Messrs. Veitch and Son, of 

 Chelsea, and by the retirement of a former one, Mr. Paul, of 

 VValtham Cross, who has hitherto divided the laurels with Mr. 

 Cutbush ; and so well had the Messrs. Veitch cultivated their 

 bulbs, that they gained a decided victory. It was hardly pos- 

 sible to conceive finer blooms than those staged by them ; and 

 accustomed as we have been to see Mr. Cutbush's famous 

 flowers, we must say that these were fully equal to his. We 

 had an opportunity this year of not only seeing these, but also 

 those which competed for the Silver Cup oifered by the Eoyal 

 Horticultural Society of Ireland; and there we found the amateurs 

 decidedly in advance of the growers for sale ; the flowers of 

 S. M. Tandy, Esq., of Appian Way, being examples of high 

 excellence. 



In place of figuring a new variety, of which there were none 

 that seemed very noticeable, we have preferred giving one 

 of the finest flowers exhibited in Messrs. Veitch and Son's 

 stand. It is of a very brilliant hue of red, a fine spike, with 

 deep-coloured carmine stripes in the centre of the petals, and a 

 vigorous grower. 



The culture of the Hyacinth is now well understood ; but 

 we have noticed that in many cases the foliage is too much 

 drawn. This can only be avoided by a rapid growth, and by 

 keeping the pots near the glass ; in this way sturdiness of 

 foliage may easily be attained, and without it a flower looks 

 weak and bad. 



