THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 2S7 



for a year or two by being divested of their outer shell, and thoroughly 

 dried. In jars, or tin cases, put in a layer of charcoal or dry sand, 

 then a layer of nuts. Proceed in this way until they are full, 

 properly securing each lid, to prevent the admission of air ; when 

 finished, bury them in the open ground, or in some cool and dry 

 cellar. 



POT CULTURE OF THE HYACINTH. 



[NE of the most important points in the culture of the 

 Hyacinth is to select hard, sound, well-ripened bulbs, 

 for fine spikes of bloom cannot be had from those that 

 are soft and spongy, even if they are of large size. Good 

 turfy loam and well-decayed manure, at the rate of three 

 parts loam to two of manure, chopped up roughly, and mixed with 

 a sixth part of silver sand, form a capital compost for hyacinths. 

 Use five-inch pots, and let them be well drained, by placing a layer 

 of crocks in the bottom. Put one bulb in eacb pot ; press the soil 

 slightly firm in the pots, and when they are filled to within an inch 

 of the rim, insert the bulbs and fill the soil firmly about them. The 

 neck of the bulb should show just above the soil. When they are 

 simply placed on the surface, with a little loose soil about them, the 

 weight of the spike will probably topple them over. The soil should 

 be used in a moderately moist condition, and then no water will be 

 necessary until they come from the plunge-beds. "When all are 

 potted, make up a good bed of coal-ashes, and stand the pots upon 

 it. This done, turn a small sixty -pot over each bulb, and cover with 

 coal-ashes, spent hops, or cocoa-nut fibre refuse, to the depth of six. 

 or eight inches. Here they should remain for five or six weeks, and 

 then be brought into the forcing-house as wanted. The youno- 

 growth must be inured to the light in a gradual manner, and the 

 plants kept near the glass. After they are well started into growth, 

 water liberally, and let them have a breath of fresh air during the 

 warmest part of the day ; but it must be admitted without chilling 

 the tender growth. 



The bulbs must not be left in the plunge-bed long enough for 

 tHe foliage to grow long and become blanched. Therefore, when the 

 flowers are not wanted until late in the spring, lift them out of the 

 plunging material and place them in a cold frame or pit, where light 

 and air will have free access to them. Those for early flowenng 

 must not be exposed to a great heat, or the flower-spikes" and foliage 

 will be drawn up weak and spindly ; and at all times keep as close 

 to the glass as possible, because neat, properly-developed foliage, 

 that will maintain an erect position without support, is nearly of as 

 much importance as good spikes of flowers. 



It is a waste of time to pot hyacinth bulbs a second season, and, 

 therefore, to secure an annual display there must be an annual pur- 

 chase. But the bulbs may be turned to good account in another 

 way. When the flowering is over, put them in a cold pit or frame, 

 and take reasonable care of them until they are beginning to die 

 down. Then plant them all out, without breaking the roots in the 



September. 



