THE HYACINTH. 611 



LXXI.— THE HYACINTH. 



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By Mr. Wm. Paul, RR.H.S., Nurseries, Waltkam Cross. 



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Of tbe many candidates for popular support in the present 

 extended list of garden fayourites there are few receiving more 

 attention at the present time than the Hyacinth. Its beauty, 

 fragrance, and variety are so many separate points of attraction, 

 and the season at Nvhich it blooms is worthy of especial consi- 

 deration. By the appearance of the Hyacinth winter is driven 

 from its last strongholds, and the garden suddenly rejoices iu 

 all the brilliancy of a summer parterre. Then the plant is of 

 such easy culture, that while the highest attainments in the 

 art may be reserved for the patient exercise of skill and industry, 

 the "prentice hand" in gardening may reasonably expect to 

 attain to fair and satisfactory results. In a word, the plant is 

 more manageable than many of its compeers, and henco there is 

 less fear of failure from the oversight of any of those little kind- 

 nesses and attentions which the skilled horticulturist knows so 



well when and how to apply. 



In treating of the culture of the Hyacinth three separate points 



occur to me : 



1. The possession of good bulbs ; 



2. The season of planting; 



3. After culture: 



and these I shall proceed to discuss separately. 



1, — Goon BtJLBS. 



The best Hyacinths are imported from Holland, A more 

 beautiful sight could scarcely be conceived than the gardens in and 

 around Haarlem in the spring and early summer months, with their 

 acres of ground, radiant with millions of crocuses, tulips, hyacinths, 

 blue, white, red,«and yellow, of the richest and most varied hues, 

 the more grateful to the eye, and the more impressive, because 

 following so closely on the footsteps of winter. As is well known, 

 the culture of the Hyacinth and its allies is a specialty in Hol- 

 land. I do not see why it should not he the same here, as the. 



