256 ON FORCING THE HYACINTH. 



dark places, but not with the same success as with the system he 

 detailed. 



The Secretary then read the following communication from Mr 

 Henry Bowers, gardener and forester at Laleham, near Chertsey, in 

 answer to a request to be favoured with a detail of his system of 

 growing Hyacinths in moss : — " I procure a quantity of sound bulbs, 

 such as feel weighty and have a clean solid ring at bottom, then 

 number each variety, and make a list of all, as a reference either for 

 the curiosity of ladies and gentlemen, or for the information of the 

 young gardener. Thus prepared, about the 20th of October I get a 

 quantity of the greenest moss ; if matted, it must be well separated 

 with the hands ; also a number of clean pots of three sizes, namely, 

 large 48's, large 32's, and flat 24's. Place an oyster-shell, or apiece 

 of potsherd, at the bottom of each pot, and fill closely with the pre- 

 pared moss, to appear like a heaped measure. Take the 48 size, and 

 displace with the finger a little of the moss in the centre, where the 

 bulb is carefully pressed in. As the work proceeds, rub a little 

 white paint on the side of the pot, and with a lead pencil mark the 

 number of the sorts as per list, and one letter signifying the colour, 

 as B for blue- Take the next size, 32, and in like manner place 

 three bulbs at equal distances, and of three distinct colours ; next 

 flat 24, in which four or five could be placed, the fifth to be chosen 

 the strongest and best, placed in the middle, a little elevated in the 

 moss, where it gives a pyramidal appearance to the whole. The potsi 

 containing three or four bulbs, should be numbered on the side close 

 to the bulbs, by which they will be distinctly known, the fifth marked 

 with an asterisk, thus *. When all are done in this order, I give 

 them a plentiful watering, and place them in a three-light box, or in 

 a sheltered corner of the melon-ground, with other bulbs, covered 

 with twelve inches of coal-ashes or old tan, and from thence they are 

 taken to the forcing-house as required, until the middle of March, 

 when the remainder can be removed to a frame or greenhouse, and 

 flowered for the drawing-room. They require plenty of air, and pro- 

 tection from frost ; watering to be repeated every third day in fine 

 weather, and once a week in dull seasons. I have placed pans of 

 water under some, but without any beneficial effect. Indeed, after 

 various experiments, I prefer the regular application of water as the 

 season will admit. In the course of three weeks they will push forth 

 sponglets into the moss, where they will flourish vigorously. The 



