112 NEW ZEALAND GARDENING. 



possible, avoid a window facing the mid-day sun, or one in 

 a room where there is a fire. These precautions produce 

 a gradual growth, and, consequently, a much stronger foliage 

 and finer bloom. 



When the roots have nearly reached the bottom of each 

 glass there will be seen, at the extremity of each, a pellicle 

 or covering of mucous matter. This soon stops up the 

 mouths of the roots by which the food of the plant is 

 conveyed to the leaves. To prevent this the roots should 

 be drawn carefully out of the glasses, and a wide vessel 

 should be placed handy filled with clean water. In this 

 immerse the roots of the bulb, and draw the mass carefully 

 through the hand, pressing them gently. Do this two or 

 three times until the roots appear quite clean and perfectly 

 white. Whilst one person is doing this, let another be 

 washing out the glass, and wiping it quite clean and dry. 

 Then gradually work the clean-washed roots into the glass 

 before putting in any water. To get them in when numerous 

 it will be found necessary to twist them round and round 

 till they reach their old quarters, and the bulb rests upon 

 the neck of the glass. Then fill the glass with clean water, 

 and replace it in the window. It will generally be found 

 that one washing will be sufficient. After this no more care 

 will be necessary, excepting occasionally changing the 

 water. Bulbs bloomed in glasses are afterwards only fit for 

 the border. As soon as the bloom is over, the bulbs should 

 be taken out of the glasses, preserving all the roots. Plant 

 them in a border in the garden, and give a good watering. 

 Here the bulbs will gradually ripen and the leaves will turn 

 yellow and decay. Then take them up, and keep them dry 

 and cool until April or May, they may then be planted in the 

 borders in the flower garden. 



Culture in Pots. Soil. This should be rich and not 

 over light, such as sound loam of rather a strong texture, 

 mixed with about one-fourth of horse-droppings. Well-rotted 

 cow manure will be a good substitute for the horse manure, 

 provided the compost has a liberal addition of sharp sand 

 added to it. 



Size of Pots. The kind denominated "hyacinth pots," 

 which are at least one-third deeper than the ordinary ones, 



