( 188 ) 



OF THE HYACINTH. 



' Suave rubens Hyacinthus.' VIRGIL. 



IN the former edition of this book,, I omitted all 

 notice of the Hyacinth, because, being very little 

 conversant with the culture of it, I did not consider 

 myself competent to give any directions respecting 

 it. I now beg, to offer some practical observations 

 upon the treatment of this flower, which have been 

 communicated to me by a gentleman, who, having 

 occasion to visit Holland in the spring of 1821, spent 

 a few days at Haarlem, when the Hyacinths were in 

 flower, in a manner, as he reports, the most agree- 

 able and gratifying. He is a great admirer of the 

 flower-garden, and of an inquisitive turn of mind, 

 that prompts him to explore any subject thoroughly 

 to which he turns his attention. I shall endeavour 

 to detail these observations in that conversational 



