312 BULBOUS-ROOTED FLOWERS. 



•and spring Crocus here and there, but leaving sufficient room 

 between in which to plant Hyacinths and early and late Tulips, 

 interspersed with English Iris, a few Meadow, Japan and Tiger 

 Lilies, with some clumps of Colchicum or autumn-flowering 

 Crocus, it will be an object of beauty and interest nearly all the 

 summer, and will not require to be disturbed for three or four 

 years. From the time that the Tiger Lilies are done blooming 

 until the autumn Crocus appear there will be a lack of flowers, 

 which might be supplied by sowing some Portulaca seed on the 

 bed in the latter part of May, which wiU cover the surface with- 

 out injury to the bulbs, and blossom abundantly in August, 

 continuing until frosts destroy the plants. 



The Hyacinth. — This grows best in light, but rich, sandy 

 son. The best manure is old cow-dung that has been thrown 

 into a heap and thoroughly rotted, and consequently entirely free 

 from any straw or litter. If it can be mixed with an equal bulk 

 of dry leaves when placed in the heap, and occasionally worked 

 over during the season, so that the leaves shall be thoroughly 

 blended with the manure, its quality wiU be much improved. 

 Soot makes a very good dressing for the Hyacinth bed, if used 

 in moderate quantity, and powdered charcoal seems to give a 

 greater intensity to the color. 



There is now hardly any conceivable color which is not to be 

 found in the Hyacinth blooms. Many exercise their skiU and 

 taste in planting them in such a manner that the color of each 

 shall increase the effect of that next to it. Those who have the 

 opportunity of selecting the bulbs for themselves should take 

 those which are solid and heavy, and have the surface covered 

 with a thin clean skin. Avoid those that seem hoUow at the 

 top, and do not esteem them according to the size, for that varies 

 much with the variety, some being always large. Those that are 

 large, but light and scaly, and those that are double-crowned, are 

 not desirable. The single-crowned, hard, smooth, and usually 

 medium-sized bulbs, give the best bloom. The single varieties 

 are the best for growing in the house, while in the open bed the 



