260 FLOWER GARDEN. 



beautiful and fragrant of the spring flowers, is a native of 

 the Levant, where it occurs abundantly, in form not unlike 

 our common harebell. It has long been a favorite in the 

 East ; but has been brought to its present artificial perfec- 

 tion in Holland, chiefly since the beginning of last century. 

 Many years ago it was successfully grown in the vicinity of 

 Edinburgh, by James Justice, F. R. S., one of the most 

 ingenious horticulturists of his time ; but it must be con- 

 fessed that, in the culture of this flower, the British florists 

 have never attained to the eminence of the Dutch, principally, 

 however, as is alleged by some, from want of attention and 

 painstaking. According to Miller, the catalogues of the 

 Haarlem florists used to enumerate 200 sorts, some of which 

 sold as high as 200 a bulb : they are now less numerous, 

 and much less expensive. 



Hyacinths are either single, semidouble, or double, and 

 exhibit a great variety of tint. In a fine flower the stalk 

 should be tall, strong, and upright ; the blossoms numer- 

 ous, large, and suspended in a horizontal direction; the 

 whole flower having a compact pyramidal form, with the 

 uppermost blossom quite erect ; plain colors should be clear 

 and bright ; and strong colors are preferable to pale when 

 colors are mixed, they should blend with elegance. 



The hyacinth delights in a rich, light sandy sbil ; and it is 

 chiefly owing to the want of these qualities in his composts 

 that the British florist fails in the growth of this beautiful 

 plant. The Dutch compost, as given by the late Hon. and 

 Rev. Mr. Herbert in the London Hortic. Transactions, vol. 

 iv., is the following : One- third coarse sea or river sand ; 

 one-third rotten cow-dung without litter ; and one-third 

 leaf mould. The natural soil is removed to the depth of 

 at least two feet, and the vacant space filled up with com- 

 post, previously prepared and well mixed. These materi^ 



