36 WESTERN HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



The Roman Hyacinths are a small class of Hyacinths, 

 and are very useful on account of their earliness. These 

 Bulbs can be secured in August, and if planted at once may 

 be had in bloom by the end of October, thus being- two 

 months earlier than the Dutch Hyacinths. These are planted 

 three Bulbs in a 5-inch pot, or six Bulbs in a 6-inch pot, and 

 when in bloom make a very pretty show, especially, being- so 

 early in the winter. 



The Dutch Hyacinths, Tulips, Narcissus, Crocus, Snow- 

 drops, Ixias and Sparaxis, are all treated in about the same 

 manner. These Bulbs should be planted in pots not later 

 than the month of October to have the very best results, 

 though they are often planted as late as December. The 

 Hyacinth should be planted with about one-third of the 

 Bulb out of the earth, but the other Bulbs mentioned here 

 should be planted from one to two inches deep, according to 

 the size of the Bulb. These Bulbs, after being potted, 

 should be watered at once, and placed in a cool cellar, and 

 covered with about four inches of sand or coal ashes ; in 

 this condition they will make but little growth, but make 

 an abundance of roots ; after one month you may bring 

 some of the pots to the light, and for the first day or two 

 shade them with thin paper ; after this you may force them 

 all you wish, and treat them as you would any other plant, 

 giving them rather more water than you would ordinary 

 house plants. If you do not wish to have all the Bulbs 

 flower at the same time, you can hold them back by leav- 

 ing them in the cool cellar, and bring them up as you need 

 them. In this way you may have a succession of flowers 

 from the Bulbs you planted all in the same day. 



If you wish to grow Hyacinths in water, I would advise 

 that the very best of Bulbs be secured, as second-class 

 Hyacinths never do well grown in water. To grow them 

 in water, fill the glass so that the Bulb will almost touch, 

 set in a dark cool place as before described ; if the water 

 becomes foul clean out the glass and replace the Bulb ; 

 always keep water enough in the glass to almost reach the 



