274 FLOWER GARDEN. 



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 

 numerous, large, and suspended in a horizontal direc- 

 tion ; the whole flower having a compact pyramidal 

 form, with the uppermost blossom quite erect ; plain 

 colors should be clear and bright ; and strong<;olors are 

 preferable to pale ; when colors are mixed, they should 

 blend with elegance. 



The hyacinth delights m a rich light sandy soil ; 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 

 Sortie. Transactions, \o\. 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 compost, previously 

 prepared and well mixed. These materials retain their 

 qualities for six or seven years, but the Dutch do not 

 plant hyacinths upon the same place for tw^o years suc- 

 cessively. In the alternate years they plant it with 

 narcissus or crocus. We may mention that, in one of 

 the finest beds of hyacinths ever seen in Scotland, a con- 

 siderable portion of the soil was composed of sleech, a 

 sort of sandy and marly deposition from the ooze on the 

 shores of the Forth. 



According to Mr. Main, St. Crispin's day, the 25th 

 of October, is the best to plant the bulbs. They are 

 generally arranged in rows, eight inches asunder, there 

 being four rows in each bed ; or, if more convenient, 

 they may be placed in rows across the bed. The bulbs 



