6o Improved Culture of Hyacinths in Water. 



appeared in Amsterdam in 1768, and which contains many ideas which 

 appear to spring from the same source. In the chapter on the culture of 

 hyacinths in water, the work of Saugrain directs the use of either rain or 

 spring water, — never hard water, or any containing mineral salts. Bulbs 

 should begin to grow in October. Advocates a plentiful supply of water ; 

 the use of earthen pots, provided with a small cock, and made for the 

 purpose ; and, during cold weather, the plunging of the pots in hot dung. 

 To have hyacinths all winter, bring the bulbs into growth ever}- ten days ; 

 but do not force the same bulbs the following year. 



Miller's " Gardener's Dictionary " treats fully of hyacinths, and tries to 

 rival Haarlem in this respect ; but the Dutch rebel, and with reason. The 

 rules of English botanists, at this time, give no new hints. 



In all these works, we find nothing of the theory which we have broached : 

 St. Simon alone seems to hint at it, when he advances the opinion — at 

 that time strongly contested — that roots are absolutely useless for the 

 growth of the hyacinth. 



" I do not think," he writes, " that the roots of the hyacinth are the 

 channels by which the sap is carried from the earth into the bulb ; but, on 

 the other hand, are conduits which serve to free the bulb from too much 

 sap, which is introduced by the solid and spongy mass in the middle of 

 the root, and which is called the eye of the root. It would not be difficult, 

 I think, to make a bulb throw up its flowers without roots ; as the maritime 

 squill, the autumnal crocus, the cyclamen, &c. To prove the roots absorb 

 nothing, I have placed them in infusions of blue, of verdigris, India ink, 

 and oil. The verdigris and oil killed the plant ; but the roots took up 

 nothing more than in the other colors, and they were perfectly transparent. 

 The roots cut or rotted off will not prevent the flower from push- 

 ing." 



We see that St. Simon believed that the roots could be cut off without 

 injury, without knowing that it aided the flowering. His theory, that the 

 roots serve as conduits, does not deserv'e a refutation ; but it will appear 

 less ridiculous if we call to mind the formation of hyacinth-roots, composed 

 of a simple channel, undivided, incapable of absorbing liquids when the 

 spongiole at the end has been cut off. We may say that St. Simon 

 approaches nearest the idea of Vavin. 



