12 GARDEN AND FARM TOPICS. 



side by side on a sunny spot of ground, and cover them 

 with about an inch of loose earth, to thoroughly ripen by 

 the subdued heat imparted to the earth which surrounds 

 them. Left in this position for a fortnight, they will 

 become dry and firm, and an hour or two of sunshine 

 will finish them properly for storing. So treated, they 

 will be but little inferior to imported bulbs. 



The multiplication and growth of Hyacinths for sale 

 is principally carried on out of doors in the vicinity of 

 Haarlem, in Holland. The sandy soil, and moisture of 

 both soil and climate in that country, are peculiarly favor- 

 able to the growth of the Hyacinth. Hundreds of acres 

 are there devoted to the culture of these and kindred 

 plants, and the Haarlem gardens are a gay sight from the 

 early season of the year till far on in the summer. The 

 process of multiplication is carried on by sowing the 

 seeds or by taking offsets from the parent bulb. By 

 seeds new varieties only are obtained; it is by offsets that 

 the already known and valued kinds are increased. The 

 bulbs are cut crosswise, and sprinkled with sand to ab- 

 sorb any superfluous moisture that may exude from the 

 incisions. After a time they are planted in the earth, 

 when numerous small bulbs are formed on the edges of 

 these incisions. At the expiration of one season they are 

 again lifted from the ground, and the numerous small 

 bulbs, still only partially developed, are separated from 

 the parent root and planted out again and again, year 

 after year, for three or four years, before they become 

 flowering bulbs of fine market quality. 



WHITE ROMAN HYACINTH. 



The white Roman Hyacinth is largely used for forcing 

 for winter flowers by the florists of New York and all 



