126 



Hyacinths in Glasses. — The Alpaca. 



Vol. XL 



For the Farmer's Cabinet. 

 Hyacinths in Glasses. 



Is the editor of the Cabinet fond of flow- 

 ers'! If he be, or if he be not, will he allow 

 a frequent reader to send an extract from 

 Hovey's Magazine of Horticulture, in rela- 

 tion to the growing of Hyacinths? I love 

 flowers at all seasons, but particularly do I 

 enjoy them when the inclemency of winter 

 makes their bloom depend upon the success 

 of in-door management, and when their con- 

 trast with the gloom abroad makes them 

 doubly delightful. In fact, I hardly feel 

 comfortable without my flowers — summer 

 or winter, completely sympathizing in the 

 sentiment that they are "nature's poetry." 

 I would cultivate them for the serenity and 

 quietude they tend to throw over the feel- 

 ings, and for the ideas which they convey, I 

 acknowledge, to my mind of the perfect be- 

 nignity of the Divine Being. 



While caring for my poetical plantation, 

 I often read myself a little homily, and am 

 surprised at my convictions of carelessness 

 in "dressing and keeping" the garden of my 

 own heart. 



The suggestions at the close of the fol- 

 lowing extract, are quite pretty, and I mean 

 to carry them out. 



Hannah. 



" When it is desired to grow hyacinths in 

 glasses with water, good sound large roots 

 should be selected ; the glasses should be of 

 some dark colour, such as blue, purple, or 

 green, or else opaque, as the roots shun 

 light, and, therefore, do not thrive well in 

 clear glasses. The glasses should be filled 

 with rain, or river water, up to the neck, or 

 BO far as, that the ring at the bottom of the 

 bulb only should touch the water. They 

 should then be put into a dark, warm closet 

 until the bulb has emitted roots, and the 

 shoot from the crown has grown about half 

 an inch in height; it should then be placed 

 in a shady part of the room for four or five 

 days, but not over a mantel piece, or near a 

 fire, or in a strong draught of air; and after- 

 wards be removed to a window with a sunny 

 exposure, giving air by raising the sash for 

 two or three hours during the middle of the 

 day, when the sun shines. On no account 

 should they be placed outside the window, as 

 the cold harsh winds which prevail at this 

 season effectually check their growth. The 

 water should be changed about once in two 

 or three weeks; the glasses should be turn- 

 ed on one side, and the roots partially with- 

 drawn to let the water flow out freely, as, 

 when the roots are wholly withdrawn, it is 



difficult to replace them without seriously 

 injuring them. 



" The single hyacinths are generally the 

 best for blooming in water. 



" A very pretty effect is produced by grow- 

 ing hyacinths in moss. For this purpose, an 

 open-worked French basket may be pro- 

 cured, and a lining of moss placed inside; a 

 glass or other dish is also to be placed in it, 

 and this dish is to be filled up with moss in 

 which the bulbs are to be placed; the moss 

 is then to be well moistened with water, and 

 the bulbs treated as directed for those grown 

 in glasses, only that an excess of water is to 

 be avoided, as if the water covers the bulbs, 

 they will decay. A rather singular effect is 

 also produced hy taking rather a large sized 

 turnip, and scooping it out from the root end, 

 until it is about half an inch in thickness, fill- 

 ing up the body of the turnip with mould, and 

 planting a hyacinth in it, and then suspend- 

 ing the turnip by three ribbons or otherwise. 

 The leaves of the turnip will shoot out and 

 turn upwards, completely hiding the roots, 

 and making a very pretty vegetable flower 

 pot." 



The Alpaca. 



Philadelphia, Sept. 30tb, 1846. 



My Dear Sir, — I beg leave to hand you 

 specimens of wool from the Alpaca, of vari- 

 ous natural colours, with specimens of goods 

 manufactured from the same ; similar speci- 

 mens were presented to the British Associa- 

 tion at Cambridge, in 184fi, and I hope they 

 may be useful to the Agricultural Associa- 

 tion of Philadelphia. These were sent to 

 me by William Rathbon, Esq., of Liverpool, 

 a gentleman well known both there and in 

 London, for his liberal and public spirit. To 

 procure them for me cost much trouble. Mr. . 

 Danson, who furnished them to Mr. Rath- 

 bon, seems a great enthusiast, anxious that 

 all the information known as to the Alpaca 

 and its value, should be made as universal 

 as possible, and with this view he sent me 

 through Mr. Rathbon, two copies of a Trea- 

 tise on the Alpaca, one to be given to a pub- 

 lic Library in Pennsylvania, the other for 

 myself; in compliance with Mr. Danson's 

 request, I beg to present through you a copy 

 for your Association, and at the same time 

 to request your acceptance of the specimens 

 sent to me, hoping that they will be of some 

 public use in your possession. 

 I remain, dear Sir, 



Your most obedient servant, 

 A. Chillas. 



Alfred Langdon Elwyn, Esq., 



Cor. Sec. of the Ag. Soc. of Pa. 



