THE HYACINTH. 205 



London is astonishing : one year's accumulation of 

 these cast-away bulbs would produce an ample stock 

 for an experimental florist to commence an essay 

 with. If by chance a few bulbs perish in the bed 

 during winter, care must be taken to make a reserve 

 against such loss, by planting a dozen bulbs or so in 

 pots to supply their places, by plunging the pots in 

 the ground, and thereby keep up the order and uni- 

 formity of the bed ; such as are not wanted may be 

 taken into the house, and forced into flower early. 

 The usual mode which the London florists pursue in 

 keeping these bulbs in pots through the winter, is to 

 plunge them in sand or coal-ashes up to the rim, and 

 to cover them with six inches of old tan : in Febru- 

 ary they begin to remove some from this repository 

 into the green-house to force ; and so continue to do, 

 from time to time, as they want them. I know of no 

 better method. 



The following flowers, with the prices, are copied 

 from a Dutch Catalogue : the gulden or guilder or 

 Dutch florin are of the same value, Is. $d. English ; 

 a stiver 1 - Q d. English. 



