H Y A 



316 



H YB 



all ; in this state they remain until the | or leaf mould, as a rustiness or canker 

 flower-stem heaves up the tan. Every i is produced on the young leaves and 

 pot, as this occurs, to be taken to the i flowers if they come in contact with 

 green-house, and put at the back of the i coal-ashes. In eight or ten weeks they 

 stage, and shaded by a mat until the > will generally be found in a fit state to 

 stem and leaves become greenish, when 1 be removed to the green-house or cold 

 gradually brought to more light and air.! pit; from thence the most forward are 

 In this state examine each spike of i taken to a house in which the tempera- 

 flowers, and cut out any decaying bios- ture is kept from 60° to 65°, and placed 

 som. I about eighteen inches from the glass. 



"Water freely, and give as much air I If any show indication of expanding 

 as possible during the day ; never omit ! their flowers before the stem is of suffi- 

 to turn the pot daily, so as to insure '• cient length above the bulb, a piece of 

 that regular pyramidal shape which is brown paper of the desired length of 

 so essential to the beauty and symmetry ; the stem, is wrapped around the pot, 

 of the spikes of flowers when in bios- 1 and then placed in a cucumber frame, 

 som." — Card. Chron. i with the ten)perature from 70° to 75°. 



In Water-Glasses. — In the last week l In the latter end of December, or early 

 of August, or the first week of Septem- in January, they rise six or eight inches 

 her, hyacinths, after being kept for a i in about ten days; if later in the season, 

 few days in slightly damped sand, i they advance quicker. When, fully 

 should be placed in their water-glasses. I expanded, the plants are taken to a 

 At first the water should only just touch j house where the temperature is 60°, 

 the base of the bulbs, and the glasses i and finally to the green-house. The 

 should be kept in a dark closet until j same practice is adopted when hya- 

 the roots have attained the length of an cinths are grown in glasses, first placing 

 inch. Two drops of spirit of hartshorn | them in a dark room to encourage the 

 may be added to the water in each glass, I protrusion of roots, with a change of 



when the bulbs are first put in, and 

 whenever the water is changed. Dark- 

 coloured glass is always to be preferred, 

 as the absence of light is natural to all 

 roots. By keeping the glasses in a dark 

 closet until the roots are full an inch 

 long, the hyacinths will not get top- 



water once a week, until they are re- 

 moved into the frame, or forcing-house, 

 when a fresh supply must be given every 

 day." — Gard. Chron. 



"Hyacinths," says Dr. Lindley, "after 

 having been forced, are three years be- 

 fore they recover themselves. After 



heavy, but the roots being in advance ! they have done flowering both in pots 

 of the leaves, will preserve the plant I and glasses, they should be planted out 



balanced erect. The bloom will also 

 be finer, as the roots will be in a state 

 to nourish the leaves before these are 

 prematurely advanced. Dr. Lindley 

 recommends a piece of charcoal to be 

 put into each glass, to feed the plant, 

 and prevent putridity in the water. — 

 Gard. Almanac. 

 Forcina:. — Mr. Shearer directs that 



n the open ground in a bed properly 

 prepared, taking care not to injure the 

 leaves but removing the flower stalk. 

 When the leaves have died away, the 

 roots may be taken up and laid by in 

 some dry place till November, when 

 they should be again planted in a bed 

 in the open ground; this should be re- 

 peated the following year ; and the year 



"In the beginning of October a few I after that, they may be again forced, 

 bulbs be placed in pots and glasses ; the I and will produce as good flowers as 



single sorts are best for early forcing, 

 which, if required, could be flowered 

 at Christmas; others are planted at the 

 end of October, and another lot about 

 the middle of November. The pots 

 used are upright thirty-twos, about 

 seven inches deep and four inches wide; 

 the soil half road sand and half leaf 

 mould, with good drainage, and the 

 bulb is placed on coal ashes, in any 

 open part of the garden, and covered to 

 the depth of eight inches with old tan 



they did the first year they were im- 

 ported." — Gard. Chron. 



Diseases. — The hyacinth bulbs are 

 very liable to ulceration, occasioned 

 usually by being treated with too much 

 water. 



HYBRIDIZING, or CROSS-BREED- 

 ING, though not quite identical, have 

 with the gardener similar objects, viz., 

 either improving the beauty of his 

 flowers, or the flavour and prolificacy 

 of his fruits and culinary products. 



