196 THE HYACINTH. 



of loam, of a light brown colour,, yet of considerable 

 depth; the nature of such a soil is of course light 

 and porous. Observe with what facility I can force 

 my arm into this fresh-dug quarter, nearly to the 

 shoulder, yet by compression and treading we can 

 render it close arid firm. It is from the application 

 of animal dungs that you behold it here discoloured 

 and of a dark appearance. Well rotten cow-dung 

 we find the best suited to such a soil, particularly in 

 that part of it in which we grow our hyacinths ; yet 

 we never suffer it to come in contact with the bulbs. 

 When we apply it, we trench it in, a foot below 

 them; we refresh the soil above with leaf-mould 

 from time to time, and with occasional dressings of 

 maiden mould, where the ground has been exhausted 

 by long culture. We have of late years applied 

 night-soil, dried and reduced to mould, with con- 

 siderable advantage : I have no hesitation in saying, 

 that the brightness and vividness of the colours have 

 been greatly increased thereby. There is one thing 

 in particular, which I wish you to observe with 

 minute attention : that is, not to cut the leaves off 



