90 CARE OF CHOICE BULBS. [April 



posed to drenching rains and scorching suns ; and the finest 

 collections may be seen after heavy rains prostrate on the 

 ground, whereas a few hours' trouble would give them the 

 requisite support, thereby preserving their beauty much 

 longer, and giving more gratification. As soon as the stems 

 advance to any height, they should be supported by wires, 

 rods, &e., and tied slightly thereto with threads of matting, 

 or any other substitute; repeat the tying as they advance, 

 avoid tying among the florets, because they grow by exten- 

 sion, and are liable to be broken off by so doing. The sun 

 deteriorates the colours very much, especially the red, blue, 

 and yellow sorts; whereas, if they were simply protected 

 from the sun by an awning of thin canvass, the colours would 

 be preserved and the beauty protracted. If there are stakes 

 drove into the ground on each side of the beds, about three 

 feet high, with others in the centre about eight feet, having 

 laths or hoops from the side to the centre, formed similar to 

 the roof of a house, so that people may walk or sit under it, 

 the canvass or awning being thin, to admit of the light freely, 

 the effect in the time of sunshine, from the brilliancy of the 

 colours, is peculiarly gratifying. Where an awning is thus 

 erected, it requires to be kept on only from nine to three 

 o'clock in sunshiny days, and during nights or time of rain, 

 allowing the awning on the most northern side to come close 

 to the ground, when necessary, to shelter them from cold, 

 sutting winds. 



The properties of a good Hyacinth are, namely the stem 

 strong and erect, the florets or bells occupying one-half of 

 the stem, each floret suspended by a short strong footstalk, 

 longest at the bottom ; the uppermost floret quite erect, so 

 that the whole may form a pyramid. Each floret well filled 

 with petals rising toward the centre, that it may appear to 

 the eye a little convex. Regarding colour, fancy does not 

 t gree, and the most scrupulous cultivators differ materially. 

 However, the more pure and bright the finer, or a white 

 with a pink centre, or the centre of the petals with a paler 

 or deeper colour appearing striped, which is considered to 

 have a good effect. 



Tulips in every respect should have the same care and 

 protection, never neglecting to have the beds with a smooth 

 clean surface, and the stems neatly tied up, although they 

 are not in so much danger as Hyacinths. 



