298 Leaves from my Garden 'Journal. 



LEAVES FROM MY GARDEN JOURNAL. • 



By Priscilla Primrose. 



February 10. What shall I do with that hyacinth to make it 

 stand up? It topples over its glass on the slightest provocation. 

 Such a beauty as it is, too — or v^^ould be if it did not, liice some 

 other misguided beauties, insist on practising that ridiculous Gre- 

 cian bend ! 



I have another that v\^as put in water a month before this one, 

 but which has not yet managed to do much but fill its glass with 

 the most wonderful roots. 



I cut them off about an inch below the base of the bulb the other 

 da}', and am waiting events with some solicitude. I have read 

 somewhere that roots are of no account to a hyacinth ; indeed, it 

 would get along much better without them ; so I could not resist 

 the temptation of trying the experiment. 



The flower buds are just formed. 



March 7. My blue hyacinth is in full bloom and high beauty. 

 This is the one on which I have been experimenting. After the 

 roots were cut off, the development of the flower buds was very rapid. 

 The spike is thick and stands quite erect, and is hung full of deep- 

 blue bells. The leaves are broad and healthy, and turn in, aiid form 

 a beautiful green cup to hold the lovely blossoms. 



I have been much annoyed by my hyacinths toppling over their 

 glasses. After trying several plans to keep them in place, I find 

 that moss, packed firmly around tlie bulb, in the cup of the vase, is 

 the most effective. One that was very tall I tied up to a knitting- 

 needle, stuck into the heart of the bulb ; it is out of bloom now, but 

 still growing, so the needle does not appear to have injured it. 



I have been much amused at the various comments and general 

 horror expressed at my savage treatment of my blue hyacinth. Every- 

 body said that it would die ; that it was impossible for a plant to 

 exist without roots. I thought myself it would, but I was pretty sure 

 it would not bloom unless something was done, and I never had a more 

 beautiful plant. I only cut the roots once, and four new ones have 

 started out, and one is within an inch of the bottom of the vase. 



