82 THE GARDENER. [Feb. 



rather pot-bound, and is benefited by a little forcing. Not many of 

 the Hyacinth tribe succeed well when put early into strong heat. I 

 will not speak about that useful sweet little Roman white : three 

 weeks gentle forcing gave us open flowers by the 26th October, 

 certainly as fine in quality as are usually met with a month later. If 

 I remember aright, the following half-dozen sorts exceeded all 

 others that we tried to force early : La Precoce comes first with a 

 plump but rather pretty spike of single white ; next in course appears 

 Prince Albert, a telling single blue ; in close succession Homerus, a 

 single red ; tightly pressed by Anna Maria, double pinkish white ; — 

 Grand Vainqueur, single white ; Regulus, lavender, shaded blue ; and 

 Carmoisie Royale, double red, come at the same time. Hyacinths in 

 hanging-baskets afford a most pleasing feature in a conservatory, and 

 not less pleasing are many of the early Tulips and Crocus ; the two 

 latter are quite adapted to pierce the sides of the largest baskets and 

 stud their mossy sides with their varied colours. I have planted 

 hundreds in baskets this autumn as described. The Snowdrops are 

 also acceptable companions to the other bulbs, but they rebel against 

 all forcing beyond the mere protection of a glass cover. 



While speaking about hanging-baskets, I may venture to describe, for 

 the information of those of less experience, what we consider a good 

 practice to carry out in their management, and at the same time 

 enumerate a list of plants suitable to that purpose. Supposing, then, 

 we take into hand baskets above the usual size, our method of filling 

 them would be as follows, considering that all the necessary means are 

 at hand : Green moss being one of the principal items employed, it 

 should be of the finest and most substantial quality — that is to say, 

 the more green and felty, the better to retain the soil properly, and 

 make rich verdant sides. First place a large patch of moss over the 

 bottom to form a foundation, then a portion of soil ; next turn out 

 some pots of various coloured Crocus, and divide the balls into two or 

 more plants ; then place alternately clumps of the several sorts around 

 the sides of the basket, making only the crowns protrude beyond the 

 wires, while the roots rest on the soil inside the basket. Besides the 

 (Jrocus, a few Snowdrops may be introduced ; they will come first into 

 flower. Independent of bulbs, we have the basket to furnish with 

 plants which give immediate effect ; the better to accomplish this, the 

 more diversified the selection should be. Dwarf hardy Ferns should 

 be largely employed, along with Lycopodiums and Alpines. Of Ferns, 

 Davallias, Aspleniums, Polypodiums, amongst natives ; and there is a 

 rich variety to be had among hardy exotics. Of Lycopodiums, Dentic- 

 ulata and D. variegata are the two best. Among Alpines, one can 

 scarcely go wrong if they are dwarf, spreading, and evergreen. All 



