314 THE ELOEAL WOELD AXD GAEDEN GUIDE. 



nourishment with which nature has supplied it; hut, like many 

 other unassisted efforts it fails to mature its parts, and perfection is 

 not attained. Let, therefore, the bulbs he chosen before they begin to 

 grow. Some will select those which have started, feeling assured of 

 their being alive from the growth already made ; but, if a good, 

 sound, heavy bulb, of average size and free from bruises, be obtained, 

 the result need not be feared. Fiivt-rate varieties are now so 

 numerous, that it would be almost hopeless to attempt to frame a 

 select list. As a proof of this, it may be mentioned that more than 

 2.000 sorts are in cultivation at the present day. Let an intelligent 

 seedsman guide your choice, due regard being had to those which 

 have proved themselves favourites in seasons past. 



Beginning to Grow the Bulbs. — The best time for starting 

 them into growth is the middle of October, but a much later period 

 will ensure fine blooms. 



What sort of Bottles to Choose. — The following remarks 

 appear in Mcintosh's " Flower Garden" : "As roots shun the light 

 with as much instinctive care as stems and leaves court it, the sort 

 of bottles best suited for growing hyacinths in water are those of 

 the darkest colours, such as blue and green. Black or opaque would 

 be preferable." 



Management or Bulbs. — Having filled the bottles with clean 

 rain water, introduce the bulbs ; but do not let them touch the 

 water by half an inch. Place them in a dark closet or cellar, in 

 order that the roots may grow Jirst, for reasons before alluded to. 

 The flower starts from the heart of the bulb so soon as it can escape 

 from the leaves vi hich enclose it, when it requires and must have 

 nourishment. If it has but few and short roots, the flower will be 

 poor and dwarfy in consequence. When the roots are of sufficient 

 length — say four or five inches — remove the bottles to a situation 

 where the bulbs will have light, but not too bright at first, and in a 

 week or so place them near the glass in a greenhouse, or in a sitting- 

 room window. 



In each case be careful to avoid too great a change of tempera- 

 ture, which should be but little higher than that of the place from 

 whence you remove the bottle. Let the plants have air on all con- 

 venient occasions, or they will grow tall, pale, and weakly. 



A variety of methods for giving vigour to the plants, and bright- 

 ening the colours of the flowers, have been resorted to — such, for 

 example, as adding to the water a few lumps of charcoal, a little 

 nitrate of soda, or a small portion of saltpetre; but the following hr.s 

 been found to answer well : dissolve half an ounce of guano witli so 

 much chloride of lime as would equal the size of a large pea, in a 

 quart of rain water. Let this mixture stand for a day or two to 

 become clear. Pour about two teaspoonfuls into the bottle twice a 

 week, after the flower appears well out of the bulb. 



Changing the Water. — It has been ascertained that the 

 hyacinth discharges an excrementitious matter from its roots. Such 

 being the case, the water becomes poisonous, and requires changing 

 every two or three weeks. Let the fresh supply be of the same tem- 

 perature as that in which the bulb has been growing, for remember 



