406 On the Cultivothn of Ilyacinlhs. 



wind." We have always found them to grow more kixuriantly, 

 and the bulbs to be more free from canker, in a compost of wliich 

 sand is a component part. In heavy soils they soon run out. 



The compost we have grown our hyacinths in was composed 

 of one sixth good garden soil, rather sandy; one sixth decayed 

 cow-dung; one third leaves, and about one third fine sand; choos- 

 ing part sea sand, in preference to all common pit sand. These 

 were mixed together a few weeks before the beds were made, 

 and, about a fortnight previous to planting, the beds were filled 

 with it, leaving time for it to settle. Previous to making the 

 beds of the compost the old soil should be removed to the depth 

 of twenty or twenty-four inches. The situation should be rather 

 elevated, with a moderately dry sub-soil, or our severe winters 

 would be apt to destroy the bulbs. Some writers have recom- 

 mended the beds to be made three feet deep; but twenty-four 

 inches, in our opinion, is sufficiently deep. When the compost 

 has become tolerably well settled the planting of the bulbs should 

 commence: this is generally done from the 1st to the 10th of 

 November; either sooner or later will do, but this is the most pre- 

 ferable time — planted earlier, the bulbs are apt to get saturated 

 with water before they commence growing; and if kept out of 

 the soil later, they are apt to be injured, by the starting of the 

 young fibres. The beds should be raised six or eight inches 

 above the walk, and may be of any width or length, to suit the 

 convenience of the planter. The bulbs should be set about 

 eight inches apart each way. 



Planting should never be performed with a dibble, (or pressed 

 into the soil,) as recommended by many eminent English florists; 

 indeed no kind of bulb should be planted in this manner. Hyacinths 

 require to be set out four inches deep from the top of the bulb, 

 and the best mode is to take oft' about five inches of the soil 

 from the surface of the bed, after it has been raked level. Then 

 mark out the rows, and carefully plant the bulbs, and replace the 

 soil previously taken off". Around and under each bulb a hand- 

 ful of sand should be placed, in order to let the water pass oft' 

 freely from the coating of the bulbs. Rake t!ie bed smooth, 

 leaving the centre about one inch the highest, so as to throw oft' 

 the superfluous water. Nothing more remains to be done until 

 the approach of cold weather: immediately after planting, the 

 beds should not be exposed to heavy rains. 



Hyacinths are nearly hardy, and we have had them live through 

 the winter without any protection whatever; but they were in- 

 jured in their growth, and the flowers were not equal to those 

 protected. The Dutch florists cover their beds with tan or 

 coarse manure. They generally allow the frost to penetrate into 

 the beds about three inches, and then cover them; this prevents 

 the bulbs from starting in the spring, and throwing up their flow- 



