HYACINTHS. 



265 



HYDRANGEA. 



Hyacinths in Water. 



In growing hyacinths in water it should 

 be said that this is a method which is not 

 recommended, because this mode of culture 

 so exhausts the bulb that it becomes either 

 useless for transfer to the borders, or takes 

 so long in recovering itself that it is some 

 years before it is in a condition to send up 

 a decent flower spike. But if this course 

 be determined on, with regard to the water 

 supply, never use spring water if you can 

 get clean rain water. Place the bulb on 

 the glass, and let the water just touch its 

 base ; for three or four weeks keep it in a 

 dark, cool situation, but avoid a damp, 

 close atmosphere. 



When the roots have grown 2 inches, 

 remove the water half an inch from the 

 base of the bulb. All disturbance of the 

 roots should be avoided ; therefore never 

 change the water while it remains sweet : 

 as a purifier, place a piece of charcoal in 

 the glass. Avoid a close, hot room, for 

 the heat and closeness tends to induce long 

 stems and small flower spikes. Choose an 

 airy situation, and place the glass in the 

 lightest and sunniest position, turning it 

 once a day. Never allow dust to remain 

 either on the bulb, leaves, or flower ; once 

 a day, or oftener, remove it with a camel- 

 hair brush and water. 



Carefully guard against changes of tem- 

 perature, especially from heat to cold, and 

 never remove the plants from a hot room 

 to a cold one; and when the water is 

 changed or the glasses filled up, the chill 

 must always be taken off the water. 

 Never use a support till the plant requires 

 it. 



A preference is generally given to dark- 

 coloured glasses over clear ones, on the 

 supposition that the hyacinth grows better 

 in them; but experience has shown that 

 the hyacinth will do as well in the one as 

 in the other ; therefore those who delight 

 in watching the growth of the roots, as well 



as the development of the flower, should 

 buy the clear glasses. 



Hydran'gea (nat. ord. Saxifra'geas). 



The common hydrangea Hydrangea 

 hortensis is a Chinese shrub, half hardy, 

 imported into England about the year 

 1790 by Sir Joseph Banks. It thrives besl 



WARNER'S PATENT AQUAJECT. 

 in a rich soil, and requires plenty of water. 

 When the plant has done flowering, its 

 branches should be cut in. Blue hydrangeas 

 are much admired. It is some peculiarity 

 in soil and situation which produces this 

 variety. Blue flowers may in general be 

 procured by planting in a strong loam and 

 watering freely with soapsuds, or, what is 

 better, with a solution of alum or nitre. 

 Propagation is effected by division of large 

 well-established plants or by cuttings of 



