I'.H HYACINTHS. 



the middle of October until the latter part of November in a 

 darkened room, in order that tbey might produce strong roots, 

 after that period I retained them altogether in an apartment in 

 which no fire was ever lighted, placed on a table close to a win- 

 dow. In this situation they remained without any other pi'otection 

 from the external air, even during the night, than the window, 

 as the shutters were never closed, and a linen blind only was 

 drawn down at night to mitigate the extreme cold. On four or 

 five nights only, during the very severe weather of the past 

 winter, when the snow was on the ground, were they removed 

 from this situation, and then only to another table placed 

 between the windows of the room, and at a distance of not more 

 than three or four feet from either window. Notwithstanding, 

 however, this very low temperature to which they were constantly 

 exposed, each bulb produced a remarkably fine flower of con- 

 siderable size, much larger, indeed, than those grown in what are 

 usually considered the most favourable situations, and equalling 

 in size many of those Hyacinths grown in pots, which have been 

 exhibited at different times in the rooms of the Society. The 

 stems and foliage also displayed a particularly healthy and 

 vigorous appearance. 



The bulbs which I selected for this experiment were some of 

 the choicest sorts, which are more diflBcult to raise, and more 

 capricious in their mode of flowering. When the great and 

 unusual severity of the weather during the past winter is recol- 

 lected, I think this experiment may be considered as affording a 

 good proof that the Hyacinth is a much more hardy flower than 

 is usually imagined, and that it does not want the species of 

 hothouse culture and high temperature which are generally 

 given to it. 



What these flowers appear to require, is, as much light as 

 possible, a tolerably pure atmosphere, occasional change of the 

 water in the glasses, which should be effected not by merely 

 filling up the glass, but by pouring off the whole of the water 

 in each, and filling it up entirely with that which is fresh. A 

 frequent change of position also is wanted, so that each part of 

 the plant may be brought in tui'n to the light, which will not only 

 render it more strong but more upright as well. 



