ON THE CULTURE OF HYACINTHS. 175 



fill lip the space level with the sunouiuling surface, with one-fifih 

 rotten cow (Imig, dean from litter, one third fresh earth, one third 

 shai-j) sand, and one sixtli decayed leaves. The compost should he 

 prei)arcd at least six months before wanted for use, and it must be 

 put into the excavation a. foitnight before planting in. When the 

 bed is settled the bulbs should be planted about the sixth of No- 

 vember, placing them eight inches asunder, covering each bulb 

 with a little cone of sand, mixing the colours as much as possible. 

 The whole is then covered w ith light sandy earth, four inches deep. 

 I always hoop over my bed in order to secure it from frost, or hea- 

 vy rains, and having a canvas awning ready, I fix it over when re- 

 quired. I never water the beds, as the rain that falls after planting 

 is quite sufficient for the roots. As soon as the leaves are yellow 

 the roots should be taken up, cut off the stem and leaves about 

 half an inch from the crown of the bulb, laying them upon the bed, 

 each upon its side, covering them with sand ; in tliis situation they 

 should remain a fortnight, until the bulbs get dry and ripe. They 

 should then be removed and placed upon shelves, in a dry room, 

 not allowing the bulbs to touch each other, and be laid with the 

 base upwards. 



Having seen in the fifth number of the Florist's Magazine an 

 article on the Culture of Hyacinths, by Snowdrop, induced me 

 to send the present communication, knowing, from the practice 

 of ten years, that if the bulbs are not annually taken up, they pro- 

 duce nothing but oUsets, and I am confident if Sxowduop had 

 tried his plan for a few years, he would have found the result to be 

 a.s I have stated. 



I cannot now pass over the o])portunity of thanking Snowdrop 

 for the honour he has confuired upon me by liking me to a bear, 

 I perfectly agiee with wliat Mr. Gifford has so wisely stated in 

 his remarks, at page 143, and thinking iliat silence is the greatest 

 contempt with which one jktsoii can treat another. I shall take no 

 further notice of Mr. Snowdrop's obsenations, but employ my 

 time on some better objects. Should, however, the Snowdrop's 

 dare to raise their insignificant heads against tlie strength of miglity 

 bears, they will have to seek a retreat in the back ground of the 

 shrubbery. 



T, K. Short. 

 Martin Hall, AikjiisI 111,, \H'.V,\. 



