148 glenny's handbook 



equally all round, the lilossom hangs down, and there is so 

 much grace in the form of the plant, that, without any 

 approach to brightness or even clearness of colour, it is a 

 striking object. The seeds must be raised in lieat in the 

 spring, and the young plants treated all the summer as green- 

 house plants, that is, potted off when they are large enough 

 into small pots, shifted to larger ones as they fill the pots 

 with roots, and kept in the greenhouse or in a cold frame, 

 having, however, plenty of air. In the following June some 

 may be planted out in a warm situation in the borders, where 

 they will grow up from six to ten feet high. Others may be 

 potted in twelve-inch pots, with loam and dung in equal parts 

 for the compost. Those in pots must be regularly supplied 

 with water, because they will grow fast and take a good deal ; 

 indeed, if weak manure water is given twice a week when 

 they have nearly reached their full growth they will be 

 benefited. The plant looks richer when not overgrown. 



HYACIXTHUS. Hyacinth. [Liliace*.] Beautiful and 

 well-known bulbs. H. amethystinus is a charming little hardy 

 species, which should be planted in sandy loam. The cul- 

 tivated varieties of Hyacinth are the progeny of H. orientalls. 

 Immense numbers of the bulbs of these odoriferous and showy 

 plants are annually imported from Holland, and, after having 

 been once bloomed, are thrown by or planted in common 

 borders to degenerate from neglect. To grow^ the Hyacinth 

 properly the soil should be composed of one-half turfy loam 

 of mellow texture, one -fourth old cowdung, or cowdung 

 mixed with leaf-mould, and one-fourth clean but coarse sand. 

 For beds, loam, sand, and dung, rotted to mould, in equal 

 quantities, may be used. In soil such as this the offsets of 

 the Hyacinth will grow, till in two or three seasons they come 

 to full size and perfection, and bulbs thus grown annually 

 will not degenerate. They must be planted in October, and 

 be taken up when the leaves die down. The beds must be 

 protected against severe frosts and heavy rains in winter, and 

 against all that may damage the foliage in spring. Hyacinths 

 flower beautifully in pots as well as in glasses for the green- 

 house and window. Deep pots, five inches in diameter, should 

 be used, the soil made very firm beneath the bulb, and the 

 top of the bulb about level with the surface. The medium- 



