AND CONSERVATORY. 87 



in May, thus giving to each patch a whole year of growth and 

 rest. They should be potted in pots proportioned to the size 

 of the roots in a rich light loamy compost, and have the least 

 possible amount of forcing. If they are kept in pots the whole 

 year round, they should be put in a damp and shady part of a 

 cold pit after they have flowered, and be kept well supplied 

 with water until the leaves die down, -nhen they should be 

 shaken out and repotted. The pretty D. eximia and D. 

 cucuUaria are worth growing in pots to decorate the house in 

 spring. They require only the simplest frame culture. 



Hyacinth. — As we are desirous of cramming into this little 

 book the largest possible quantity of valuable information, we 

 will say nothing about the beauties of the Hyacinth, but pro- 

 ceed to ofter brief but sufficient directions for its cultivation 

 as a conservatory plant. In selecting varieties for pot culture 

 it is advisable to have equal quantities of single and double 

 flowers. But for growing in glasses the single varieties are 

 to be preferred ; while for bedding in the open ground the best 

 are those of the most decisive colours, whether single or double, 

 but the single, as a rule, are to be preferred. One of the 

 most important points is to select hard, sound, well-ripened 

 bulbs, for the fine spikes of bloom cannot be had from those 

 that are soft and spongy, even if they are large in size. The 

 growth must be prolonged over as long a season as possible, 

 and consequently early potting must be practised. Pot the 

 bulbs as early as possible after they arrive in the market, 

 especially if they are wanted for very early flowering, and have 

 to be forced. This will give them plenty of time to form 

 roots and get well established. When this is accomplished 

 before they are placed in the warmth, there will be little 

 danger of any of them refusing to push up the spikes at the 

 proper time. "Dumpiness" may be safely attributed to the 

 bulbs not being properly furnished with roots, and it is a waste 

 of time to put paper caps over them with the idea of drawing 

 the spikes up. The fault lies with the roots, and if they are 

 all right there will be little or no fear of a failure. Good 

 turfy-loam and well-decayed manure, at the rate of three parts 

 loam to two of manure, chopped up roughly and mixed with a 

 sixth part of silver sand, forms a capital compost for hyacinths 

 as well as other bulbs. 



Use five-inch pots, and let them be well drained, by placing 



