THE PARLOR GARDENER. 23 



avoiding excess, by renewed watering whenever 

 you perceive that the earth is getting dry. 



At the end of two days, the crowns of the two 

 bulbs will both send out straight, white roots ; 

 those of the reversed bulb turn down in curves, 

 but do not fulfil their functions worse for that. 

 Very soon the two bulbs placed in a contrary 

 position to each other put forth leaves the one 

 into the air, the other in the water ; then you 

 will see appear in the midst of the transparent 

 liquid the buds on the floral stalk, and finally 

 the flowers, as beautiful, as well formed, of as 

 rich a color, surrounded by leaves of as fine a 

 green as the corresponding parts possess, of the 

 other flower planted in the ordinary manner, 

 and vegetating and developing in the air, its 

 natural element. It is true that time is neces- 

 sary for all this to be accomplished : bulbs 

 planted in October will flower fully in Febru- 

 ary or March ; but is it not a pleasure to watch 

 day by day the phases of their development, 

 above all that of the hyacinth which ends by 

 blooming in the water, head downwards ? 



