106 



HENDERSON'S HANDBOOK OF PLANTS. 



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same careful increase should be observed, or the 

 points of the roots will infallibly be killed. 

 One-third the depth of the pot is fully sufficient 

 at first, and if the heat is brisk they should not 

 be plunged more than half way at any time. 

 When the flower stems have risen to nearly their 

 full height, and the lower flowers of the spike 

 are beginning to expand, the plants should be 

 removed to a Tower temperature, usually afforded 

 by the green-house, and when the flowers are 

 fully expanded, the plants can be taken to the 

 sitting-room or wherever their 'presence is de- 

 sired, observing to protect them from sudden 

 changes or cold draughts of air, and the water 

 given to them should be moderately warm. 

 Hyacinths in glasses are an elegant and appro- 

 priate ornament to the drawing-room, and for 

 this purpose occasion little trouble. The bulbs 

 should be procured and placed in the glasses as 

 early in the season as possible, keeping them in 

 the dark until their roots are well started, after 

 which the lightest position that can be afforded 

 is the best; the water in which they grow should 

 be changed twice or thrice a week, and in severe 

 weather the plants must be removed from the 

 window, so as to be secure from frost. For dec- 

 orating the flower garden, the bulbs should 

 be planted in October or the early part of No- 

 vember, in light, rich soil, at a depth of four 

 inches from the crown of the bulb to the sur- 

 face of the earth. It may be necessary to place 

 sticks to them when in bloom, to prevent them 

 from being broken by the wind, and this is all 

 the attention they require till the foliage is 

 withered, and the season has arrived for taking 

 them up, when, instead of the usual practice of 

 drying them at once in the sun, we would ad- 

 vise the Dutch method to be adopted, namely, 

 to place them side by side on a sunny spot of 

 ground, and cover them with about an inch of 

 loose earth, to thoroughly ripen by the subdued 

 heat imparted to the earth which surrounds 

 them. Left in this position for a fortnight, 

 they will become dry and firm, and an hour or 

 two of sunshine will finish them properly for 

 storing. The multiplication and growth of Hy- 

 acinths for sale is principally carried on out of 

 doors in the vicinity of Haarlem, in Holland. 

 The sandy soil, and moisture of both soil and 

 climate in that country, are peculiarly favorable 

 to the growth of the Hyacinth. Hundreds of 

 acres are there devoted to the culture of these 

 and kindred plants, and the Haarlem gardens 

 are a gay sight from the early season of the year 

 ill far on in the summer. The process of mul- 

 tiplication is carried on by sowing the seeds, or 

 by taking offsets from the parent bulb. By 

 seeds new varieties only are obtained; it is by 

 offsets the already known and valued kinds 

 are increased. The bulbs are cut crosswise and 

 sprinkled with sand to absorb any superfluous 

 moisture that -may exude from the incisions. 

 After a time they are planted in the earth, when 

 numerous small bulbs are formed on the edges 

 of these incisions. At the expiration of one sea- 

 son they are again lifted from the ground, and 

 the numerous small bulbs, still only partially 

 developed, are separated from the parent root 

 and planted out again and again, year after year, 

 for three or four years, before they become flow- 

 ering bulbs of fine market quality. The white 

 Iloman Hyacinth is largely used for forcing for 

 winter flowers by the florists of New York and 

 all large cities. In New York alone upward of 

 five hundred thousand bulbs are used during 



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the winter, and the number is rapidly increasing 

 each year. The flower spikes average four cents 

 each at wholesale. By a succession of plant- 

 ings, beginning in September, they are had in 

 flower from November till May, and even later. 

 The method pursued is similar to that for the 

 Lily of the Valley. (See Convattaria, where the 

 method is described.) 



Hydrangea. From hydor, water, and aggeion, a 

 vessel; referring to the cup form of the capsule 

 or seed-vessel. Linn. Decandria-Dlgynia. Nat. 

 Ord. Hydrangeaoue. 



A genus of showy shrubs, first introduced into 

 England in 1790 by Sir Joseph Banks, who sent 

 H. Hortensia from China, and since then a num- 

 ber of species have been sent to this country 

 from Japan, among which is a climbing variety, 

 (called also SchizophragnKi Hydranyeoules,) that 

 will adapt itself to almost any situation. It is 

 perfectly hardy, and, clinging like Ivy, will 

 reach to the top of the highest walls or trees. 

 Its beautiful white flowers are borne in abun- 

 dance in axillary racemes. The flowers, or rath- 

 er bracts, of H. Hortensia are pink, but in some 

 soils they become of a deep blue. This change is 

 effected artificially by using iron filings, incor- 

 porating them in the soil. A distinct white vari- 

 ety of H. Hortensia, known as "Thos. Hogg," is 

 now very popular. To cultivate these plants in 

 perfection, cuttings should be taken every sea- 

 son from the strongest shoots of the old plants 

 in July or August; and after being struck, 

 should be potted in rich earth, and eneouraged 

 to grow vigorously. A cold pit or frame, with 

 frequent applications both of manure and plain 

 water, will usually effect this, and cause them 

 to become thoroughly established and strong 

 before the winter. In this state they may either 

 be forced in a gentle, moist heat through De- 

 cember and the spring months to bloom early, 

 or kept cool for the production of summer 

 flowers; in either case, it must be borne in mind 

 that they require abundance of moisture when 

 in an active state. H. paniculate yaundiflora, in- 

 troduced a few years since from Japan, is among 

 the finest of all hardy shrubs for the lawn or the 

 border. The flowers are white, and are pro- 

 duced in the greatest abundance in August, and 

 remain till midwinter in a dried condition. H. 

 Otaksu,, also recently introduced from Japan, is 

 of the habit of H. Hortensia, but a stronger 

 grower. H. stelUita prolifera is another new one. 



Hydrocotyle. From hydor, water, and mtyle, a 

 cavity; in reference to the plants growing in 

 moist situations, and the leaves being hollowed 

 like cups. Linn. Pentandria-Digynia. Nat. Ord. 

 Apiacecv. 



A genus of uninteresting, marshy plants, 

 common throughout the United States, and 

 popularly known as Water Pennywort. There 

 are about a dozen species. 



Hymenocallis. From hymen, a membrane, and 

 kalos, beautiful; referring to the membranous 

 cup inside of the flower. Linn. nemndria-Mono- 

 rjynia. Nat. Ord. AmaryUidaceai. 



A genus of hardy and green-house bulbs, pro- 

 ducing large white flowers similar to the Pancra- 

 tium, to which class they are closely allied. 

 They are found in great abundance in the 

 swamps of Virginia and southward, and are sent 

 to market in great quantities, and sold on the 

 streets of all our large cities as ''Spanish Lilies." 

 They are considered poor tenants for the green- 

 house, as they do not pay in beauty for the re- 

 quired room and care. 



