224 



THE HYACINTH AND NARCISSUS. 



buds after they appear. — Ed.] As the 

 blooms begin to show colour, they must be 

 shaded from the violent heat of the sun and 

 from strong winds ; it may be necessary to 

 place sticks, and tie up the stems of the 

 taller kinds, but they cannot be too dwarf 

 for beds. As the bloom advances they 

 must be shaded from the sun, for it would 

 materially shorten the period of their flow- 

 ering if they were exposed to its scorching 

 rays. 



Jlfter Blooming. — The whole of the cov- 

 ering should be removed as soon as the 

 perfection of the bloom has gone, and the 

 plants must have the benefit of all the rain 

 and air till the leaves turn yellow. They 

 may then be taken up in as many baskets 

 as there are sorts, and as a simple mode of 

 doing it, perhaps the best way would be to 

 take up one sort at a time, because there 

 can then be no mistake ; the kinds all 

 form lines in particular directions, and the 

 roots are so large, that there is no danger 

 of missing any, like tulips, which occasion- 

 ally elude our vigilance, however careful 

 we may be. The bulbs should be taken to 

 a shady place under cover, and be laid out 

 to dry off, and remain there until the foliage 

 is completely dead, after which they should 

 be trimmed, that is, the stalks and leaves 

 should be cut close, and the fibres pulled 

 off, and the offsets taken away ; they may 

 then be put away for the season of rest. 



Treatment of Offsets. — Prepare beds simi- 

 lar to those for blooming the finer bulbs, 

 and plant the offsets in the same number 

 of rows, but thej^ may be three inches in- 

 stead of six inches apart, one of the 

 ways, whether across or lengthways is im- 

 material in respect of the bulbs, but proba- 

 bly it is best to have them close in the 

 cross rows, instead of the long ones, on ac- 

 count of their being easier kept clear of 

 weeds. Plant them so as to be four or five 

 inches covered. When they are up, any 

 that show bloom should be deprived of all 

 the buds but one or two at the top of the 

 truss or spike ; one is enough if you can 

 ensure it, though two are left until it is seen 

 that the top one will stand. These beds 

 need not have any protection beyond a little 

 litter of some kind loosely laid upon the 

 top. When the foliage has decayed down, 

 the bulbs may be taken up as the matured 



ones are, and the whole sorted ; the larger 

 ones to be put in six inches apart instead of 

 three ; they are to be replanted and treated 

 similarly each year, until they arrive at the 

 size which is marketable, and this may be 

 generally told by the size of the spike, 

 which ;should be reduced to a single top 

 pip, season after season, until it will come 

 sufficiently large to look well with the ma- 

 tured bulbs. The object of depriving the 

 spike of all its buds but one, is to throw the 

 strength that would be divided among the 

 flowers into the bulb itself. 



Monthly Operations. — January. — The 

 bulbs being in the ground, and requiring 

 nothing but protection from hard frosts, 

 should be covered with litter of some kind, 

 \^Old tan bark or dry leaves will answer. — 

 Ed.] 



February. — A continuation of protection 

 being all that is required, the litter need not 

 be removed until the plants are breaking 

 through the surface. 



March. — The beds may now haA^e the 

 sun, and all the air, if there be no frost ; 

 but must have the litter replaced on doubt- 

 ful evenings, lest a frost should come on in 

 the night. As soon as they are well up, 

 the earth should be stirred between the 

 roots, the compost being well crumbled, 

 and laid close round the stems. 



April. — The flowers will be developing 

 themselves rapidly, if the spring has been 

 mild, and the past winter genial. Before 

 the flowers are opened, Avarm showers will 

 be beneficial ; afterwards they would only 

 damage the bloom. The main roots will 

 continue in bloom a long time, if carefully 

 shaded. The offset bnds must be looked 

 to, and the pips reduced on each spike to 

 one or two of the top ones ; so also must 

 seedlings that are beginning to flower. 

 Younger seedlings, as well as the beds ge- 

 nerally, must be carefully weeded. 



Maij. — When the bloom has passed the 

 perfection, sufficiently to be no longer ap- 

 preciated for show, the coverings must be 

 taken off, but until then the sun should 

 never be allowed to shine on the open flow- 

 ers. An arid sun and moderate rain are, 

 however desirable for the perfecting of the 

 bulbs. Keep every thing clear of Aveeds. 

 Mark any seedlings that are likely to be 

 useful as additions to the present varieties. 



