408 On the Cultivation of Hyacinths. 



only about half the depth (two inches,) of the old roots. Tlie 

 beds should be well covered and the bulbs taken up, as has been 

 recommended for the old roots. OiFsetts generally flower weak- 

 ly the second year, the third year considerably stronger; and the 

 fourth year the largest of them may be planted out in the beds 

 with the strong flowering bulbs. 



Hyacinths may be easily raised from seeds, but this mode has 

 been very rarely resorted to, except in Holland. The pro- 

 cess is so tedious, and the procuring of a very superior variety 

 so uncertain, that it will not probably be attempted in this coun- 

 try. Those florists, however, who have an abundance of pa- 

 tience, may be, perhaps, induced to try the experiment; and 

 for their information we ofier a few remarks on the best mode of 

 proceeding. 



Double flowers rarely produce seed; but from the single ones 

 plenty may be gathered. In selecting the seeds choose those 

 which are produced on superior varieties, possessing all the re- 

 quisite properties, viz: strong straight stems, fine formed pyramids 

 of bells, vivid, or dehcate colors, as either are desired, and if the 

 flowers incline to be semi-double, so much the greater chance of 

 procuring full double ones. It should not be gathered until per- 

 fectly ripe, when the seeds are very black; let them remain 

 in the capsules till the time of sowing, which in our climate 

 would probably be in a frame in February or March. Deep 

 boxes should be filled with the same compost before recom- 

 mended. When the young plants appear the boxes may be 

 plunged in the open garden, where they may remain for two 

 years, only protecting the bulbs in the winter season. The third 

 year they should be taken up, as has been directed for the old 

 roots, and in the fall they may be planted out in a bed by 'them- 

 selves. A few flowers will appear the fourth year, but the great- 

 er part will not bloom until the fifth, and some not till the sixth. 

 If one in five hundred proves to be worth naming, or equal to 

 the already existing varieties, the grower may consider himself 

 very fortunate. 



Hyacinths are subject to various diseases, and sometimes great 

 numbers of bulbs are lost in a season; the most serious disease 

 is that called by florists the ring-sickness: when a bulb is once 

 affected it can only be got rid of by cutting out the diseased 

 part: if on doing this the heart of the bulb is destroyed, it will 

 still grow and send out ofFsetts, but will never recover itself 

 again so as to produce bloom. When the affected part is cut 

 away, the wound should be exposed to the sun until it is quite 

 dry, after which it would be best to plant it out in a dry situation, 

 in a compost more sandy than that recommended for healthy 

 roots. The decay of the bulbs is attributed to several causes; 

 but probably the principal one is the use of improper soils, es- 



