Remarks on the Forcing of Hyacinths. 463 



If any show the least sign of mildew, rottenness, or disease 

 of any kind, they shonld be carefully rejected. In potting 

 I prefer to leave the crown of the bulb exposed, especially 

 the earliest, as I believe it prevents the lodgment of water 

 about the bud, and thus lessens the chance of rotting. With 

 regard to the compost in which to pot them, I should not be 

 too nice, provided it were loamy, rich porous soil ; as with 

 these properties, thorough drainage, and due supply of moist- 

 ure, all is secured necessary for the preliminary development 

 of the plant. For it must be recollected that the bulb of the 

 hyacinth, like all other bulbs and tubers, is a reservoir of 

 food, prepared by the previous year's foliage to nourish and 

 sustain the leaves and flowers about to be excited into action ; 

 and if, as I should recommend, all early forced bulbs are 

 thrown away, immediately the flower decays, for the reason 

 before alluded to. We are thus left at liberty to take every 

 advantage of the supply of food thus previously elaborated. 

 In order to do this, say in six weeks after being potted, those 

 with most roots may be placed in a moderate hotbed and 

 steadily brought forward, the supply of water being regulated 

 by the vigor of the plants, by no means overdoing it, as too 

 great freedom in that point would tend to the too rapid devel- 

 opment of the leaves at the expense of the flowers. For 

 the same reason, except where haste is absolutely necessary, 

 I would not advise too strong a heat ; all time gained by 

 employing such means is at the expense of a great loss of 

 color and duration in the flower. 



As the flowers begin to expand, the plants may be removed 

 to the conservatory at once, or, better, to a house of interme- 

 diate temperature, until further expanded. The increase of 

 light and air, to which they will in either ^situation be ex- 

 posed, will heighten their colors, but this will materially 

 depend on the period of the season ; in many instances we 

 must wait until late in the spring e'er we can obtain the 

 various tints in perfection, which render some of these flowers 

 so interesting. If this moderate condition of growth can be 

 maintained, plants will result which will need no sticking or 

 tieing ; they will stand erect without those unsightly adjuncts, 



