HARDY BULBS 43 



a light rich compost, such as may be made of good fibrous 

 loam, with the addition of well-decayed cow-manure, leaf- 

 soil, and sharp sand ; three parts of the first to one 

 each of the second and third being a good proportion. 

 The bulbs should be barely covered, and the pots 

 plunged in ashes and covered with these until the roots 

 have made free growth, when the pots may go into 

 a frame or greenhouse. When the buds show, the pots 

 may be put in bottom heat in a temperature of sixty- 

 five to seventy degrees. The white Roman is the one 

 generally grown for early work, but blush, blue, and 

 straw-coloured forms are also to be had, and form a 

 pleasing change. The large Hyacinths may be grown 

 in a similar compost, although one lighter and richer 

 gives good results. They are potted with the crown 

 just above the surface, and plunged in ashes or fibre 

 in a pit, frame, or open ground. When the spikes 

 show above the ashes they may be taken in and forced 

 if desired. A temperature of about seventy degrees is 

 the highest which should be allowed. 



When Hyacinths are grown in water in glasses good 

 sound bulbs must be selected. The water should almost 

 touch the base of the bulb, and a little piece of charcoal 

 should be placed in the glass. After putting^in the 

 bulbs the glasses ought to be placed in a cool, dark 

 place, until the roots make their appearance, when they 

 may be brought into the light. Hyacinths may also be 

 grown in moss, Jadoo, and cocoa-fibre and charcoal, and 

 even in sand. Bulbs which have been grown in pots 

 and glasses can afterwards be planted outside. 



OTHER HYACINTHS 



For early flowering in a sunny place in the rock- 

 garden, the lovely H. azureus, or Muscari azureum, 

 should be grown. It flowers in January or February, 



