222 THE GARDENER. [May 



cat Hamburg on a Black Hamburg stock : the bunches set uncom- 

 monly well and require as much thinning as a Elack Hamburg. The 

 third is a Frankenthal on a Elack Hamburg ; and, fourth, a Mrs Pince 

 Black Muscat, grafted last year and showing fruit upon every shoot 

 this season. I have a few more varieties, but as they have been in- 

 arched last year I shall not extend this paper any further. 



H. Rose. 

 Grangemuir Gardens. 



HYACIISTTHS WORTH GROWING. 



Subjoined is a list of the best Hyacinths exhibited this year at the 

 London shows, and also at the Exhibition of Spring Flowers at the 

 Crystal Palace by Messrs Downie, Laird, & Laing, of Forest Hill : — 

 Alba Maxima, Grandeur a Merveille, Gigantea, Mont Blanc, Blanche, 

 Formidable, in whites ; Fabiola, Howard, Koh-i-noor, Cavaignac, Yon 

 Schiller, Garibaldi, Solfaterre, and Veuirback, in reds ; Lord Melville 

 (new, dark-blue with white eye), King of the Blues, Charles Dickens, 

 General Havelock, Marie, Grand Lilas, Prince of Wales (new, fine 

 large bells), Prince Albert of Prussia (the finest black-blue in cultiva- 

 tion), in blues; Ida, fine yellow; Haydee, fine violet; Lady Twyli 

 and Lord Cairns, promising new red flowers ; General Pelissier, 

 Macaulay, and A. Prinsen. 



The above list includes only varieties that can be relied on. Of 

 course, the new varieties want proving. There is great variety of 

 colour, and great variety of price. 



I think the Hyacinth is generally grown in a compost of too close a 

 character ; a rich and very sandy compost suits them well, — the grittier 

 the sand is the better. It is also well to bear in mind the hardy char- 

 acter of this flower ; keeping it too much shut up only produces lanky 

 foliage. Never on any account allow the plants to become dry, but 

 keep them well supplied with water : in forcing, a temperature of 55° 

 to 60° suits them well. 



Messrs Downie, Laird, & Laing are to be congratulated for the 

 fine display of Tulips, Crocuses, Cyclamens, Primulas, &c., which, in 

 addition to the large collection of Hyacinths, rendered the west transept 

 of the Crystal Palace quite gay during the fortnight the Exhibition 

 was held. 



We considered it well worth a visit, and trust that this the first 

 exhibition of spring flowers will be continued in succeeding years by 

 the firm. R. P. B. 



