212 MY GARDEN. 



of thousands of crocus flowers in blossom at one time. Crocuses 

 are apt to be destroyed by mice, but I have found that early planting 

 is a partial preventive. 



" Crocus, and hyacinth, with rich inlay, 

 'Broidcr'd the ground, more coloured than with stone 

 Of costliest emblem." MILTON. 



The crocuses hardly disappear before Hyacinths (Hyacinthus orien- 

 tSy fig. 397) blossom. These may be grown in the same way 

 as crocuses. For out-of-doors it is better to use 

 the pot hyacinths of the previous year, which 

 flower with me, if left alone, many years. We 

 grow our pot hyacinths in a particular manner. 

 They are planted in a compost of loam, manure, 

 and sand, and then all the pots are placed to- 

 gether and covered with earth. This imitates 

 their natural condition ; for when they are well 

 rooted, and the crown has risen about an inch 

 from the bulb which in my soil takes place about 

 FIG. 397- Hyacinth. Christmas they are taken out. A few have their 

 blossom hastened by heat, while others are placed in the orchard- 

 house and blossom with the peach and nectarine trees, making alto- 

 gether a brilliant display. Directly the flowers die down the bulb is 

 turned out of the pot and transplanted to the border, where it remains 

 permanently, and will last for years if not disturbed. Those who 

 desire to grow hyacinths to show the highest perfection of cultivation, 

 use a pot much deeper than usual, to enable the roots to strike down ; 

 but this is quite unnecessary for general gardens. Hyacinths are in 

 the wild state naturally blue and single, but florists' flowers are single 

 and double, and are of all shades of red, white, and blue, and some are 

 yellow. The latter colour, however, seems to be a greater deviation 

 from the natural flower, and the bulb which produces it is more delicate. 

 It is usual for the finest specimens which are shovvn at botanical 

 gardens to be returned to Holland, for the Dutch gardeners to get the 

 bulbs into good condition before they are again shown. Bulbs stored 



