The Canadian Horticulturist. 369 



Hyacinth Culture in Pots. — The Waterloo Horticultural Society has 

 just issued the following circular to its members, in view of the distribution of 

 bulbs now about to be made by the Society — Three or four bulbs can be planted 

 in an 8 or 10 inch pot, but single bulbs in 5 inch pots are preferable. Many 

 good plants are grown in tin cans with holes punched in the bottom for drainage. 

 Any good potting soil will do ; if stiff, mix with sand to make it porous ; merely 

 cover the bulb with soil, leaving it slightly lower than the rim to permit of water- 

 ing. Press the soil lightly around the bulb, but not below ; if pressed too 

 firmly in the soil when the roots begin to grow they will lift the bulb out of its 

 proper position. After potting, water moderately and set in the coolest part in 

 the cellar, cover so they are perfectly dark, but leave room for tops to grow. 

 They can be placed out of doors, covered with four or six inches of coal ashes, 

 until hard frost, and then removed to a dark cellar. The object in this is to 

 have the pots filled with roots before the top grows. Plant in September or 

 October, for the longer time they have to make roots the better the bloom, but 

 do not bring them out of the cellar until January. If the tops have started, 

 bring gradually to the light to give natural color. Do not hurry them, as the 

 very best bulbs will bloom poorly in December or in January ; poorer bulbs 

 will bloom well in February or March. 



In Glasses. — Fill the glass with pure rain water until it barely touches the 

 bulb, place in the dark as described above, and delay bringing up until the 

 glasses are filled with roots, and not then if too early in the season ; change the 

 water occasionally, but be careful not to break the tender roots. The single 

 varieties are best for house culture. 



In the open ground. — Plant in good, well enriched soil, four to six inches 

 deep and six inches apart, but do not allow them to touch fresh manure ; after 

 the ground has frozen cover with strawy manure, to keep from freezing and 

 thawing, but remove in spring, before the tops begin to grow. Hyacinths, after 

 blooming in water, are worthless ; those in pots, if kept growing until the tops 

 die off naturally, will do fairly well planted out next fall, but are not worth forc- 

 ing again. In the open ground they can be left three or four years without 

 removal 



Do not fail to join the Waterloo Horticultural Society for 1897. One dollar, 

 if paid by January ist next, will entitle you to the Canadian Horticulturist 

 INIonthly, the bound volume of Reports of the Canadian Fruit Growers' Associa- 

 tion and Entomological Society, and a share in the plant distribution of that 

 Association, and your choice of fruit trees, shrubs, plants and bulbs as premiums. 

 These will be larger and better than any previous year. Subscriptions received 

 by the President, Secretary, or any of the Directors. 



