HTACINTHUS. 



161 



HTACINTHUS. 



■weather. H. im'peridlis is a very 

 splendid climbing plant, with very 

 rich dark -purple flowers, which are 

 the more conspicuous from the ivory 

 white of the central column. The 

 flowers are sometimes tliree inches 

 in diameter. It is impossible to 

 describe the singular richness of the 

 flowers of this plant to any one who 

 has not seen them. H. xricta aurea 

 is also very handsome. H. hella 

 can scarcely be called a climber, as 

 its general appearance resembles a 

 myrtle. The corolla of the flowers 

 is of a pure white, and the crown of 

 a deep purple, "resembling an ame- 

 thyst set in frosted silver." It was 

 introduced in 1848. The flowers 

 are very small, but very abundant. 



Hu'mea. — Co7np6sit(e. — Elegant 

 biennial plants, which should be 

 sown on a slight hotbed in spring ; 

 then potted ofl', and kept in the open 

 air during sximmer, and in the green- 

 house during winter, to be finally 

 planted in the open border in May 

 the second year. If the plants are 

 repotted three or four times during 

 the coui'se of the first summer, 

 always into only a little larger pots, 

 they will become so much stronger 

 .before they are finally planted out 

 as amply to repay the additional 

 trouble. 



Hu'mulus. — UrticacecB. — The 

 Hop. — This plant, though generally 

 grown for the purpose of making 

 beer, is a very ornamental climber, 

 and very suitable for covering bowers, 

 &c., from the great rapidity of its 

 growth, and the deep shade afforded 

 by its large and numerous leaves. 

 It should be grown in a rich and ! 

 deep loamy soil, and it is increased 

 by dividing its roots. 



Hyacinth. — See Htaci'nthus. 



Htaci'iv'Thus. — AsphodelecB. — 

 The common garden Hyacinth, Hy- 

 acinthus onentdlis, is one of the 

 most beautiful as well as the most 



fragrant of flowers ; and, to a certain 

 extent, is almost one of the easiest 

 of culture for the amateur gardener. 

 The reason of this is, that the bulbs 

 are generally to be purchased at an 

 easy rate in the seed-shops, and the 

 leaves and flowers being prepared in 

 .the bulb during the previous year, 

 it is only necessary to place the 

 bulbs in soil of any kind, or even 

 on the surface of vessels of water, 

 to produce a very fine flower. But 

 this will not insure a bloom in the 

 following year, because that depends 

 not only on the plant being placed 

 in circumstances where it will flower 

 freely, but also where it will produce 

 abundance of healthy leaves, and 

 bring these to maturity. This is 

 only to be done in beds properly 

 prepared for the purpose, and under 

 a proper system of management. 

 We shall first speak of the most 

 common mode of growing Hyacinths, 

 viz. — in miscellaneous borders ; 

 next, of the most perfect mode of 

 growing them, viz. — in beds of 

 properly prepared soil ; and, lastly, 

 of growing them in glasses of water. 

 Groioing Hyacinths in miscella- 

 neous borders, among other floivers. 

 — Fix on the spots where they are 

 to be planted, and loosen the earth 

 to the depth of a foot with the 

 spade, breaking it fine, and taking 

 care that the roots of the adjoining 

 plants are cut off, so as not to inter- 

 fere with those of the Hyacinths. 

 Remove three or four inches of the 

 soil, and then deposit three or four 

 bulbs, one in the centre and the 

 others round it, so as to form a 

 circle not more than six inches in 

 diameter. Press the bulbs firmly 

 into the soil, and cover them, three 

 or four inches deep, with the soil, 

 if it is a common garden loam, and 

 five or six inches if it is a light 

 sand. Plant only bulbs of one 

 colour together, and put in a stick 



