HYACINTH. 199 



the flower arrives at perfection, to the brilliancy of a rain- 

 bow. Another good quality displays itself in the bulb, 

 which, if properly managed, will yield an abundance of 

 offsets ; these being cultivated, will flower the third year in 

 perfection, and thus continue to multiply perpetually. 



I have named September and October as the season for 

 planting, because it is considered the preferable season for 

 most bulbs ; but if these be preserved in good condition 

 through the Winter until early in April, and then planted in 

 a soil consisting of about one half fresh loam, equal parts 

 of leaf mould, and sand well mixed, they may be forwarded 

 in a warm room, green-house, or moderate hot-bed, until 

 settled warm weather, and then turned out of the pots into 

 a border, where they can be shaded from the sun at 

 noonday ; this will induce each of them to throw up three 

 or four stems from three to four feet high, each stem pro- 

 ducing five or six gorgeous blossoms, in great perfection. 

 Those planted in the Autumn or Winter, may also be turned 

 out of the pots in June; and, from.; the fibres having taken 

 substantial root in the soil before transplanting, such plants 

 may be taken up again in August, or early in September ; 

 .and on being planted in large pots, they maybe removed, 

 so as to perfect their bloom, within view of the parlour or 

 sitting-room, which will afford considerable amusement and 

 gratification. 



HYACINTH. 



u Hail to thee ! hail, thou lovely flower! 

 Still shed around thy sweet perfume, 

 Still smile amid the Wintry hour, 

 And boast e'en then a Spring-tide bloom. 

 Thus hope, 'mid life's severest days, 

 Still smiles, still triumphs o'er despair; 

 Alike she lives in pleasure's rays, 

 And cold affliction's Winter air." 



There are, as has been already stated, about thirteen 

 hundred varieties of this family of plants, comprising all the 

 various hues, as- white, pink, red, yellow, blue, purple, 



