CHAP. Tin.] HYACINTHS. 237 



not to penetrate into it. When the weather 

 becomes frosty, a covering of dry litter, reeds, 

 or tan, is put over the beds ; or hoops may be 

 fixed over them, on which bast mats are 

 stretched. In March the covering is removed, 

 and the beds are cleared of weeds, and covered 

 with a fresh coating of cow-dung and water. 

 In April an awning of thin canvas is erected 

 over each bed, under which the plants are to 

 flower ; and by the middle of the month they 

 will be in all their beauty. As soon as the 

 flowers begin to fade, the flower-stalks should 

 be cut off and instantly removed. Thev should 

 never be suffered to lie on the bed, and should 

 not even be put where by any chance thev can 

 mix with the earth intended for a hyacinth bed 

 in another year. Care should also be taken to 

 wear gloves when cutting off the flower-stalks, 

 as they appear to contain a kind of corro- 

 sive juice, and the labourers employed in Hol- 

 land to cut them off the bulbs frequently find 

 their hands and bodies become red and inflamed, 

 and sometimes so painful as to prevent them 

 from sleeping. 



When the leaves turn brown at the points, 

 which is generally about the middle of June, 

 the bulbs should be taken up. When this is to 

 be done, the leaves are first pulled off, or, if 

 they will not come off readily by pulling, they 

 are cut off close to the bulb. The bulbs are 

 then taken out of the ground, and laid on the 

 footpath in rows, so as to keep the different 

 kinds distinct. The bed is afterwards raked 

 smooth all over, and a strip about a foot and a 

 half broad is made flat and firm, in the middle 



