September 



unsuitable position for the glasses. We should like to add, that 

 notwithstanding the high qualities of the Hyacinth, it is quite a 

 cottager's flower. Good spikes have been grown in tumblers kept in 

 a garret. 



For pot culture the Hyacinth is a grand subject. Prepare the 

 pots carefully as to drainage, and fill them with a light, rich, porous 

 compost. Remove a little soil from the central surface, and into 

 this hollow lightly press the bulb, and press the soil somewhat 

 firmly round it, leaving about half the bulb visible. If too much 

 power is employed, the soil will be so compact that when the roots 

 begin to grow, instead of penetrating, they will lift the bulb out 

 of its proper position. There is always some risk of this, and it 

 accounts for the practice of heaping over the pots a considerable 

 weight of ashes. Of course this covering serves a second purpose 

 in checking leaf-growth until the roots are established. Any cool 

 and safe position will answer for storing the pots at this stage. 

 For the earliest supply of flowers select single varieties, as these 

 naturally come into bloom somewhat in advance of the doubles. 

 When the tops begin to grow, remove the pots to a greenhouse or 

 frame, and subdue the light for a brief period until the natural 

 colour is gained. Thence transfer to the forcing-pit as requirements 

 demand ; and they will need a week or ten days to prepare them for 

 use. It is easy to secure a continuous supply of Hyacinths from 

 Christmas onwards by forcing successive batches of roots until the 

 final display will come naturally into flower without artificial assist- 

 ance. To augment the beauty of the flowers employ as little heat 

 as may be necessary, and defer the finishing temperature until the 

 latest moment possible. For general decorative purposes, small pots 

 will be found extremely convenient when a brilliant display is wanted 

 in a limited compass ; good specimens can be grown in the 48-size, 

 but for exhibition the 32-size must be resorted to. Neither in pots 

 nor in glasses should the bulbs be allowed to send up foliage from 

 between the outer scales; these rob the central growth, and they 

 should be carefully removed with a sharp knife. 



Hyacinths, Italian and Roman, should be potted in suc- 

 cessive batches to provide a continuous supply. When the roots 

 are formed the pots may be removed to a pit or frame, and to the 

 forcing temperature as the buds show. If they have been brought 

 on gradually, a very few days in a warm pit or house will throw them 

 into flower. It is a source of astonishment to us that these flowers 

 are not more extensively grown in private gardens. Immense 



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