174 ON THE CULTURE OF HYACINTHS. 



which gradually decrease as they approach the centre, forming an 

 imbricated surface, so as their united beauties at once meet the 

 eye. The outer or broad end of each petal should be without 

 either pring or indenture, and of whatever colours the flowers may 

 be composed, they should be perfectly distinct ; each petal should 

 ha\e a due proportion of pure white, — Bizarres rather less than 

 one half, — Flakes one half, — and Picotees rather more than one 

 half. Bizan-es are generall}' esteemed preferable to Flakes, when 

 their colours are rich and regularly distributed, although not nui- 

 ning in regular stripes from end to end of the petals as in Flakes, 

 which should have their colour's disposed in long regular stripes, 

 narrowing gradually to the base of each peUd, and ending in a fine 

 point. I had two parcels of Carnation seeds sent me in 1830 ; 

 one parcel saved at Naples, the other at Milan — both places famed 

 for raising seed to produce good flowers. I raised above a thou- 

 sand plants from each parcel, and the result was not a flower worth 

 keejnng in the whole stock. 



Alexander Mackenzie. 

 Edinbutgh, Au,]mt Ut, 183,3. 



ARTICLE IV.— On ike Culttire of Hiiacinths, {Hi/acin- 

 thus Orienialis.) By Mr. T. K. Short. 



This most beautiful and highly fragi-ant plant is a native of the 

 Levant, gi'owing very abundanth"^ about Alejipo, where it blossoms 

 in February. It is supposed that it was first introduced into this 

 Country in 1595. The first mention of it was made by Gerard 

 in 1596. 



Only single flowered Hyacinths were at first cultivated, until 

 Peter Voeriielm raised some double ones, the first of which he 

 named Mary, which sort is now lost, but his third, " The King of 

 Great Britain," which is now looked ujjon as the oldest double Hy- 

 acinth, was greatly preferred, the price of \\hich was then, 1000 

 florins, or £100 sterling per bulb. 



Culture. When the situation is determined upon, the bed 

 should be marked out, and the soil removed to the depth of three 

 feet six inches. Take manure from an old hot bed, and fill up the 

 excavation with it, nine inches deep, treading it lightly down, then 



