n8 JOTTINGS OF A GENTLEMAN GARDENER 



possible. Water when necessary, and do not coddle them 

 unduly. 



Hyacinths may require some support as they grow. The 

 wire now sold is convenient, but it must be stuck right into 

 the bulbs, which is a nuisance. A neat raffia tie-up to this 

 will prevent falling. 



If a greenhouse is not available, use a frame, place near 

 the glass and keep airy. They may also be brought on in a 

 light sunny window, but frost must be excluded from the 

 room. 



After flowering in the home or greenhouse, the dead 

 blooms should be cut off, and water gradually withdrawn. 

 The bulbs may be planted in grass in the spring, or kept 

 till autumn comes round again. They are useless for 

 forcing again. 



Bulbs in Bowls : Bulbs may also be set in bowls in 

 much the same way as in pots. But as these have no 

 drainage holes, water but little, and then transfer them to 

 a cellar for about six or eight weeks ; they must be in 

 darkness but not in frost. Otherwise treat as for pots. 



Another and more convenient way of growing them in 

 bowls, is to plant them first in boxes or pots, and transfer 

 them to the bowls when coming into bloom. This is 

 specially convenient where the bowls cannot well be spared 

 for the long period required by the other method. They 

 should be well watered after being repotted into the bowls. 



Of late years considerable attention has been paid to 

 the culture of bulbs for the house in cocoa-nut or other 

 fibre. In this case fill the bowls with fibre and charcoal, 

 and pot as already described. Above all, pot firmly. The 

 advantage of fibre is that it is clean to handle, cheap, and 

 easy to work with. Water slightly and transfer to cellar 

 for some time. Then proceed as with pots. An alternative 

 method is to pot in soil to begin with, and replant into fibre, 

 when coming into bloom. 



