86 CARE OF CHOICE BULBS. lApril 



erected, it requires to be kept on only from nine to three 

 o'clock in sunshine days, and during nights or time of rain, 

 allowing the awning on the most northern side to come close 

 to the ground, when necessary, to shelter them from cold 

 cutting winds. 



The properties of a good Hyacinth are, namely — the stem 

 strong and erect, the florets or bells occupying one-half of 

 the stem, each floret suspended by a short strong footstalk, 

 longest at the bottom ; the uppermost floret quite erect, so 

 that the whole may form a pyramid. Each floret well filled 

 with petals rising toward the centre, that it may appear to 

 the eye a little convex. Kegarding color, fancy does not 

 agree, and the most scrupulous cultivators difler materially. 

 However, the more pure and bright the finer, or a w^hite 

 with a pink centre, or the centre of the petals with a paler 

 or deeper color appearing striped, which is considered to 

 have a good efi'ect. 



Tulips in every respect should have the same care and 

 protection, never neglecting to have the beds with a smooth 

 clean surface, and the stems neatly tied up, although they 

 are not in so much danger as Hyacinths. 



The characters of a good 2\(hp arc — the stem strong, 

 elastic, and erect, about two feet high ; the flower large and 

 composed of six petals, proceeding a little horizontally at 

 first, and then turning upward, forming a flat-bottomed cup, 

 rather widest at the top ; the three exterior petals should be 

 larger than the three interior ones, and broader at their 

 base ; the edges of the petals entire, free from notch or rug- 

 gedness; the top of each well rounded. The color of the 

 flower at the bottom of the cup ought to be pure white, or 

 yellow, and the rich-colored stripes, which are the principal 

 ornament, should be pure, bold, regular, and distinct on the 

 margin, and terminate in flne points elegantly penciled. 

 The centre of each petal should have one bold stripe, or 

 blotch, of rich coloring. The ground colors that are most 

 esteemed are white, the purer the finer; or, on the other 

 hand, the dark grounds, and of course the darker the better; 

 but these vary in estimation, according to the prevailing taste 

 of amateurs. 



