292 LILIACE.^. 



narrow-linear. The flower-scapes rise to the height of about i 

 foot, supporting two or three flowers, the segments of which are 

 all more or less wavy and reflexed, and of a clear pale yellow. 

 They open in June and last for a couple of months. Native of 

 Siberia. 



Hyacinthus {Hyacinth). — This is a very familiar genus of 

 beautiful bulbs. The species H. 07'ientalis is the parent of the 

 innumerable and brilliant varieties so largely imported from 

 Holland, to meet the demand for it in this country, both for 

 forcing and hardy-flower garden embellishment. Most people 

 know something of the management of these bulbs in pots and 

 glasses, but few amateurs appear to be aware of the fact that 

 they may be cultivated out of doors at less cost per hundred 

 than they pay annually per dozen for the kinds usually grown 

 in rooms and small greenhouses by them. The same roots 

 will last for years without any diminution of vigour if they are 

 properly cultivated. They will succeed in any sunny bed or 

 border, and may be planted in masses, lines, or clumps, as 

 fancy directs. The ground should be well dug and manured 

 with old dung ; and if it is of a heavy clayey texture, it should 

 be well mixed with sand and leaf-mould. The ground must be 

 prepared to receive the bulbs early in October, when a fine 

 sunny day should be chosen for planting them. Plant them 

 about 3 inches deep and 6 inches apart, and finish by laying a 

 mulching of roughish stable-litter, old tan, or coal-ashes on the 

 surface of the bed or clump. Should frost prevail in spring, 

 when the leaves begin to get near the surface of the ground, 

 the mulching should be increased in depth so as to protect 

 them from injur\^; but this is rarely necessary. They require 

 no further attention beyond that of keeping the surface of the 

 bed trim and clean after the leaves and scapes pierce the ground, 

 and supporting the flowers when necessary, till the end of May 

 or the beginning of June, when they may be lifted in order to 

 make room for summer-flowering occupants, and laid closely 

 together, with a little soil over their roots, in a moderately sunny 

 warm spot to mature their growth, after which they may be 

 cleaned by removing the decayed leaves and fibres, and stored 

 away in a cool room till planting time. There are special 

 selections of unnamed sorts, in difterent shades of blue, white, 

 red, and yellow, made by nurserym.en and bulb-merchants for 

 this purpose ; and they may be procured in mixture or in separ- 

 ate colours, the mixed roots being least expensive. The differ- 

 ent colours of Hyacinths do not all bloom at one time ; and for 

 massing in mixture purposes, and continuous mixed lines, it is 

 necessary on this account to plant at different depths in order 



