354 



THE PLEASURE, OR 



[APRIL 



THE PLEASURE, OR FLOWER GARDEN. 



HANGING VASES. 



Those who study the ornamental will not omit the use of hanging 

 vases, which may be placed in rooms, windows, and piazzas, to the 



great beautifying of the 



Fig. 33. scene. In general, the 



plants for growth should 

 be selected from those 

 whose branches hang down 

 gracefully, and are suffi- 

 ciently vigorous to cover 

 the vase. Ivy, carefully 

 cultivated, forms an admi- 

 rable plant for the house, 

 as it bears a fire heat bet- 

 ter than most. The fol- 

 lowing are also eminently 

 suitable : Petunia, Nurein- 

 bergia gracilis, Torenia 

 ariatica, mesembryanthum, 

 Pentas carnea, heliotropi- 



um Peruvianum, verbenas, maurandia Barclayana, lycopodium, tro- 

 paeolum, hoya, &c. &c. 



CHOICE HYACINTHS. 



The earlier sorts of hyacinths will begin to open and -show color 

 in the beginning of this month ; it will be proper to screen the finer 

 sorts from the too powerful effects of the sun, which, if not prevented, 

 would bleach and tarnish their colors, particularly the reds and deep 

 blues, but if they are properly defended from it, their colors will be 

 preserved, and they will, in some measure, be kept back so as to be 

 in full bloom with the later sorts, especially if the roots of the early 

 kinds have been planted about an inch deeper than the rest : it is a 

 very desirable object in a grand display of this delightful flower to 

 have a uniform bloom. 



It will be necessary to support the stems as they advance in height; 

 for this purpose small sticks or wires, painted green, should be forced 

 into the ground immediately behind the bulbs, either in an erect 

 position or leaning a little backwards, to which the stems are to be 

 rather loosely tied with small pieces of green worsted as soon as they 

 begin to bend, or are in danger of being borne down by the weight 

 of their bells ;* this operation must be repeated as they advance in 

 height, for it is impossible to do it at one time, so as to answer the 

 purpose. When the greater part of the bed appears in color, a 

 covering or awning should be erected over it, and the walk to be in 



* The Florist's usual name for the corolla of the hyacinth. 



