1873.] FLORIST FLOWERS. 453 



and so on. We still find the Hyacinths improving in quality, increas- 

 ing in numbers and value. Only single kinds were first cultivated. 

 The first named double we find on record was named " Mary," raised 

 in the commencement of the last century by one Peter Yoerhelm. 

 Mention is also made of another by the same raiser called the King 

 of Great Britain — which brought £100 sterling. Haarlem has been 

 long famous for the cultivation of this root, as well as successful in 

 raising countless new varieties. So enthusiastic were some of the 

 growers in pursuit of double sorts that as much as £200 has been given 

 for a single root. 



Propagation. — The Hyacinth may be increased either by means of 

 seed or by its ofi'-set bulbs. It is useless to discuss its culture from seed 

 here, so we shall confine our remarks to the method of rearing young 

 bulbs to maturity. So, at the outset, we shall suppose that the parent 

 plants which are to supply the off-sets are in pots. Those plants have 

 just done flowering, the flower-stems should be cut out and the plants 

 moderately supplied with water until indications of ripeness appear 

 by the foliage assuming a yellow tinge, when the bulbs ought to be 

 shaken out of the soil and put on boards to dry in the sun ; after 

 which the withered foliage should be cut clean away from the crown 

 of the bulb, and have the young bulbs separted from the old ; then 

 prepare suitable bed in which to plant the young. To do this pro- 

 perly a warm dry corner should be fixed on ; then have as much leaf- 

 mould and sand wheeled on to it as will raise the bed, when trenched, 

 5 or 6 inches above the general ground-level. In addition add a fair 

 pro^Dortion of rotten cow-manure, and proceed with the trenching. 

 The bed being in readiness, plant the bulbs in rows, inserting them 2 

 inches below the surface and 15 inches between the rows ; this will 

 admit of rows of some slender annual being sown between the bulbs, 

 which will enliven the spot without hurt to the bulbs. Any time in 

 October will do to plant the ofi'-sets, but the ground should be rather 

 dry. Preserving the bed from weeds, and cutting out the flower-stems 

 before flowers get formed, is all the labour entailed in the succeeding 

 two years ; but in the autumn of the third year the bulbs will gener- 

 ally be fit to plant in beds to flower the following spring. 



Culture in Beds. — As soon as the summer flowers have been re- 

 moved from the beds have them deeply dug and well manured for 

 the reception of the Hyacinths. This should take place in October, 

 and besides digging the beds they ought to be neatly edged if on 

 grass. Proceed next to plant after this plan : — First line the bed 

 regularly into divisions of 9 inches between rows, and dibble holes on 

 the lines 8 inches apart, then plant the roots into the holes so that 

 they are 3 inches below the surface. When the bed has become com- 



2 H 



