302 " THE HYACINTH." 



or off-sets. Some of the bulbs may be expected to flower in the fourth 

 year, and others in the fifth and sixth, according to their strength. 

 The Dutch florists consider it a successful sowing if they procure four 

 or six good varieties out of each thousand bulbs so raised. Maddock 

 says we must be content if we find one flower in five hundred deserving 

 a name or place in a curious collection ; but for ourselves we should 

 prefer seeing the four hundred and ninety-nine common varieties 

 flowering at one time on our parterre, than a single plant of the most 

 curious variety ; not but that we would wish them all to be of the best 

 kinds if possible, but in Hyacinths, as in Violets, we covet quantity, 

 both to gratify the sight and the smell. Those for the house, or that 

 are intended to be sheltered by awnings, should be of the most curious 

 kinds, whilst those of least attractions may form clumps in the open 

 borders, but where they are in some degree screened by shrubs or taller 

 plants. 



Off-sets will bloom the second year, and tolerably strong the third, if 

 properly treated. They may be planted soon after they are taken from 

 the old bulbs, and it is desirable to form a separate bed for these young 

 bulbs, and which should be in an open part of the garden that is screened 

 from the north and eastern winds. The bed should be a few inches 

 above the common level of the garden, so that superfluous moisture may 

 run off, and for this end it is advised that the beds be formed of a 

 rounding or convex shape. The bulbs should be covered about two 

 inches deep with the compost. 



The compost most esteemed at Haarlem for growing Hyacinths con- 

 sists of pure white sand, rotted leaves of trees, fine peat earth, and a 

 small proportion of thoroughly rotted cow-dung, and this prepared soil 

 is renewed annually after the bulbs are lifted in summer. The com- 

 post in which they grew is removed to the depth of about nine inches, 

 and the sub soil is digged over ; a new layer of compost of equal depth 

 is afterwards introduced ; and in this the choice bulbs are again planted 

 in the autumn. The compost in which the Hyacinths grew descends 

 the following year, first to the Tulips, and then to the Narcissus, &c, 

 so as to give them all a regular change of soil, adding more cow-dung 

 or more sand to the compost, as the nature of the succeeding plants 

 may require, 



From the middle of October to the middle of November is the best 

 time for placing the Hyacinths' bulbs in the ground, for when planted 

 earlier they appear above the ground in the middle of winter ; and if 

 neglected later, the bulbs will be weakened by their natural tendency 

 to vegetate. The bulbs may be placed from six to nine inches apart, 

 and it is advisable to place a small quantity of sand beneath each bulb, 

 to prevent the earth adhering too closely to them. 



It is the practice to plant Hyacinths alternately on the beds accord- 

 ing to their colours ; but when they are planted in the flower-garden, 

 or on the projecting borders of the shrubbery, they will be found to 

 have a much better effect when clumps are formed of distinct colours. 



The principal Hyacinth-growers in Holland take up their bulbs 

 about a month after bloom, or as soon as the plants begin to appear 

 yellow and decayed. They then cut off the stem and the foliage close 

 to the bulb, or within about half an inch of it 3 but leave the fibrous 



