GARDEN HYACINTH. 91 



stem should be strong-, tall, erect, supporting nu- 

 merous large bells, each supported by a short 

 strong peduncle or foot-stalk in an horizontal 

 position, so that the whole may have a compact 

 pyramidal form, with the crown or uppermost 

 bell perfectly erect. 



The bells should be large and perfectly dou- 

 ble ; i. e. well filled with broad, bold petals, ap- 

 pearing to the eye rather convex than flat or con- 

 cave : they should occupy about one half the 

 length of the stem. 



The colours should be bright, whether plain 

 red, white, blue, or yellow, or variously diversi- 

 fied in the eye : the latter give additional lustre 

 and elegance to the flower. 



Strong bright colours are in general preferred 

 to such as are pale : there are, however, many 

 rose-coloured, pure white, and light blue hya- 

 cinths in high estimation. 



Some sorts consist of petals of different co- 

 lours; such as light reds, with deep or red eyes ; 

 whites, with rosy, blue, purple, or yellow eyes ; 



