106 OS THE HYACINTH. 



when the supply of water is diminished, and at the end of the 

 same month, all moisture is suspended : the tallies are firmly fixed, 

 and the pots are set at rest, under the stage of the green-house (a 

 cellar will do) where, hy the close adhesion of the earth to the 

 roots, occasioned by the pressure produced in the growth of the 

 tubers, they are preserved in a perfectly plump, sound, and 

 healthy state : not a root can be broken, or an eye disturbed ; be- 

 sides these advantages, I am led to believe, that then- being set 

 thus early at rest, according to a known law in vegetation, there is 

 a tendency to push their buds at an earlier period, than by the 

 usual mode of treatment. 



S. B. P. 



ARTICLE V. 



BOTANICAL CURIOSITY OF THE HYACINTH. 



BY W. BR1ANT, GARDENER, UPPER CORE HOUSE, KENSINGTON. 



I believe it has been asserted by Sir Humphrey Davy, that no 

 species of plant will vegetate downwards. With every respect for 

 that great man, I beg leave to tell you, and, through you the rea- 

 ders of the Cabinet, that such is not the fact, as I have in more 

 than one instance proved. Curiosity induced me at the time of 

 putting in my bulbs, (October) to plant four Hyacinth bulbs in the 

 following manner ; I am particularly fond of the single blue Hy- 

 acinth, and therefore singled these out for my object, after procu- 

 ring my regular compost, which is a mixture of leaf mould, yellow 

 loam, and white sand, I placed one Hyacinth bulb at the bottom of 

 a 48 pot, with the crown through the draining hole, and commen- 

 ced filling up-my pot in the usual manner, and then planted one at 

 the top, and taking it to the green-house, I cut a circular hole in 

 the shelf, so as to admit the pot half-way down. 



Both bulbs did vegetate freely, and seemed to vie with each 

 other; before the flower expanded, I procured a long glass, such 

 as confectioners has for show glasses, and placing the pot on the 

 top of the glass, it seemed to give additional vigor to the flowers 

 to expand, its appaerance now, is strikingly beautiful, the natural 

 fragrance of heir flowers, combined with the peculiarity of the 



