114 NEW ZEALAND GARDENING. 



heat. After the blooming is over the pots may be placed 

 behind a wall and duly watered to perfect the bulbs. They 

 will not answer again for forcing, but may be planted in the 

 borders the April and May following 



Culture in Beds. Soil. To grow Hyacinths well in beds 

 the soil should be rich, light, deep, and dry. Manure must 

 not be applied at the time of planting, but should be well 

 incorporated with the soil in the previous Autumn. 



Planting. The best time is in April or May, although, 

 if the weather is mild, they may be planted as late as the 

 middle of June. The soil should be moderately dry, and, 

 therefore, it is better to wait a week or two should the season 

 for planting be wet. To prevent treading upon the bed lay 

 upon it a narrow piece of board long enough to reach across 

 it. Plant them with a dibber thick enough to make a hole 

 as wide as the largest Hyacinth is in diameter, and the end 

 that is thrust into the ground should be cut across, and a 

 mark made just as far from the bottom as the bulbs should 

 be covered with soil ; the proper depth is three inches from 

 the top of the bulb. Each Hyacinth should have at least 

 five inches square of surface to grow in, but six inches would 

 not be too much space for the leaves to expand, especially 

 if the same bulbs are to be planted again the following 

 season. If the colours are to be mixed, place the bulbs so 

 that the colours will succeed each other in rotation, as, for 

 instance i, red ; 2, blue ; 3, white ; 4, yellow ; then 5 red, 

 and so on, till the bed is full ; or, if there are several beds, 

 and it is desirable to keep the colours separate, so that one 

 bed shall be red, another blue, another white, and another 

 yellow, then plant accordingly. Cover the bulbs carefully 

 three inches deep, then rake the bed lightly. 



Shelter. The blooming season may be prolonged for a 

 considerable time by covering the beds with hoops and 

 scrim. This may appear troublesome, but the trouble will 

 be more than repaid by the prolonged period of blooming. 



Water. During dry parching winds, which sometimes 

 occur in October, a slight sprinkling over the beds will be 

 acceptable to the rising buds. This sprinkling may be con- 

 tinued with advantage till the blooms begin to expand. As 



