ON THE HYACINTH, 247 



face, and if a tasteful arrangement be desired, the place for 

 each bulb should be marked thereon, the following order appears 

 the most natural, and has decidedly the best effect. Let the rows 

 be six in number, and eight inches apart, and allow the same dis- 

 tance between the bulbs, and four inches from the four outer rows 

 to the limits of the bed. On the layer of sand in the places ap- 

 propriated to them, let the bulbs stand in the following position 

 throughout ; red, blue, white, red, &c. commencing with a red in 

 the first row, and in the second with a white, which place under 

 a supposed point equi-distant from the red and blue above it ; the 

 next root will consequently be a red, and under the point between 

 the blue and the white ; in the third row begin with a red as in 

 the first, and let it be directly under the red, in that row the 

 blue following it, will be beneath the white and red of the second 

 row ; the fourth row will commence with a white as the second, 

 and be directly under it ■ the red in the next place will be under 

 the blue and white of the third row, &c. This mode* allows the 

 greatest possible diversity, and each bulb except the outer ones 

 will be in the centre of a hexagon. In this arrangement yellow 

 Hyacinths may be considered as white. Then cover them with 

 a mixture of fresh earth and sand three or four inches deep, the 

 latter depth is the proper one for the earlier roots, as it will re- 

 tard their progress, so as to bloom with the later ones, an atten- 

 tion to this is requisite to ensure all blooming together. When 

 covered the bed will be completed, and if boarded on the sides, 

 will add much to the neatness of it, or if preferred, brick-work 

 may be substituted, and hoops placed over the beds, will be use- 

 ful, as mats can be thrown over the beds, during severe frosts 

 or heavy rains, but for slight frosts, as the Hyacinth is hardy, no 

 covering is necessary, and rain when not violent, is beneficial ; 

 the autumnal rains are, except in very dry seasons, sufficiently 

 copious to obviate the necessity of artificial watering. 



A few bulbs or reserves should be planted in pots at the pro- 

 per time, and plunged in order to supply deficiencies that may 

 occur; for some bulbs whose appearance indicate no symptoms 

 of decay, are rotten at heart. 



As all tbe directions to be observed in planting lias been enu- 

 merated, it is unnecessary to add more now; I shall, however, in 

 the next, or in the January Number, resume the subject , and a 

 few words on blooming Hyacinths in pots, shall close this ar- 

 ticle. 



