HYACINTH IRIS. J5o 



short stems, and in the beginning of October plant 

 them out where they are intended to flower. The 

 chief beauty of this family is one that is double and 

 almost black, and this being also the most rare the 

 method of preserving it is worthy of attention. 

 About midsummer cut over by the ground some of 

 the flowering stems, which will cause buds to spring 

 up beneath for next year's flourish. When this 

 will do no longer, perhaps in the fourth or fifth year, 

 take off some buds in autumn, the nearest to the 

 ground that can be got, and extract part of the 

 bark along with the bud. Treat these in the man- 

 ner of carnation pipings ; some of them will take 

 root, and your fine plant will be renovated. The 

 writer has now a specimen reared in this way from 

 seed, and in its eighth year, growing six feet high. 

 and clothed with dark purple. 



Hyacinths Grow best in light sandy earth with 

 manure placed a foot beneath the bulbs. They are 

 planted in September, and a covering of leaves or 

 tanner's bark well decayed must be applied in winter 

 to protect them from frost. After the flower is 

 decayed, the roots and steins are first partially 

 raised, and then extended on the surface in order to 

 dry gradually. The bulbs in such numbers as to 

 have any effect are expensive, and, with whatever 

 care, they degenerate every year from the period of 

 their importation. 



Iris Of which there may be fifty varieties, are 

 all beautiful, and some remarkable for the sweetness 

 of their odour. If placed in a bed it is necssary 



