CULTURE OF BULBOUS ROOTS IN ROOMS. 213 



will need moderate occasional waterings, until they begin to 

 grow ; then they should have abundance of air in mild 

 weather, and plenty of water from the saucers nnderrfeath 

 the pots, whilst in a growing state ; and should be exposed 

 as much as posible to the sun, air, and light, to prevent the 

 foliage from growing too long, or becoming yellow. 



For this purpose, single Hyacinths, and such as are 

 designated earliest among the double, are to be preferred. 

 Single Hyacinths are by some held in less estimation than 

 doubJe ones, their colours, however, are more vivid, and 

 their bells, though smaller, are more numerous ; some of 

 the finer sorts are exquisitely beautiful ; they are preferable 

 for flowering in Winter to most of the double ones, as they 

 bloom two or three weeks earlier, and are very sweet scented. 

 Roman Narcissus, double Jonquils, Polyanthus Narcissus, 

 double Narcissus, and Crocuses, also make a fine appear- 

 ance in the parlour during Winter. It is a remarkable 

 circumstance of the Crocus, that it keeps its petals expan- 

 ded during tolerably bright candle or lamp light, in the same 

 manner as it does during the light of the sun. If the candle 

 be removed, the Crocuses close their petals, as they do in a 

 garden when a cloud obscures the sun ; and when the 

 artificial light is restored, they open again, as they do with 

 the return of the direct solar rays. 



Hyacinths and other bulbs intended for glasses, should be 

 placed in them about the middle of November, the glasses 

 being previously filled with pure water, so that the bottom 

 of the bulb may ju^t touch the water ; then place them for 

 the first ten days in a dark room to promote the shooting of 

 the roots ; after which expose them to the light and sun as 

 much as possible ; they will blossom without the aid of the 

 sun ; but the colours of the flowers will be inferior. The 

 water should be changed as often as it becomes impure ; 

 draw the roots entirely out of the glasses, rinse the fibres in 

 clean water, and also the glasses inside ; care should be 

 taken not to suffer the water to freeze, as it not only bursts 

 the glasses, but often causes the fibres to decay. Whether 

 the water be hard or soft, is of no great consequence ; but 

 soft, or rain water, is generally preferred, and it must b 

 perfectly clear. 



