56 BRECK'S BOOK OF FLOWERS. 



vated in Holland, forming quite an important item in the exports 

 of that country, and from whence, Great Britain, the United 

 States, arid all Europe, receive their annual supplies, and, in 

 fact, all parts of the world. Hyacinths are double and single ; 

 of various colors, embracing every shade of red, from a deep 

 crimson pink down to white; of blue, from white to almost, black, 

 and some few yellow and salmon color ; but the shades of yel- 

 low are not very brilliant, and appear yellow only in contrast with 

 the white. Some of the white, and other light varieties, have 

 red, blue, purple or yellow eyes, which ad much to the beauty 

 of the flower ; and others are more or less striped or shaded ; 

 and some are tipped with green. The double varieties are 

 generally considered the finest, but many of the single sorts 

 are equally desirable, as what is deficient in the size of the bell 

 is made up in the greater number of them ; some of the single 

 sorts are the richest in color. 



The stem of a fine double Hyacinth should be strong, tall, 

 and erect, supporting numerous large bells, each suspended by 

 a short and strong peduncle, or foot-stalk, in a horizontal posi- 

 tion, so that the whole may have a compact pyramidal form, 

 with the crown, or uppermost bell, perfectly erect. 



The bells should be large and very double ; that is, well 

 filled with broad petals, appearing to the eye rather convex, than 

 flat or hollow ; they should occupy about one half the length 

 of the stem. 



The colors should be clear and bright, whether plain red, 

 white, or blue, or variously intermixed, or diversified in the 

 eye ; the latter, it must be confessed, gives additional lustre 

 and elegance to this beautiful flower. 



Strong bright colors are, in general, preferred to such as are 

 pale ; there are, however, many rose-colored, pure white, and 

 light blue Hyacinths, in high estimation. Hyacinths begin to 

 flower the last of April in this climate, and, if shaded by an 

 awning from hot suns, may be kept in perfection the greater 

 part of a month. They never require watering at any season ; 

 keep them free from weeds ; as the steins advance in height, 



