68 THE HYACINTH. 



from that at the apex, and the same distance from each 

 other, and a foot being allowed between each triangle. 



Hyacinths should always be planted in dry weather ; and 

 if set in common garden-soil, in which they sometimes do 

 well, a little clean sand should be placed round each bulb 

 to prevent rot. The bed should be covered with leaves or 

 litter as soon as the frost sets in, and remain covered till 

 the bulbs push in spring. 



A writer in " The Cottage Gardener" gives the following 

 directions for the preparation of a common bulb-bed, which 

 will serve for those who have not time for more thorough 

 preparation : — 



" When the beds [of the garden] are cleared of their 

 summer occupants, it is time to prepare them for planting 

 bulbs, to bloom in April, May, and the beginning of June. 

 Nothing is better than deep digging, or trenching, placing 

 at the bottom of each bed six inches of fresh or recently 

 fallen tree-leaves, which should be covered with a foot of 

 soil ; and they will serve to raise the beds considerably, and 

 allow water to drain away freely. In the course of a year, 

 the leaves will be pretty well decomposed ; and, on digging 

 in the succeeding autumn, they will be brought to the sur- 

 face, and thus the soil will be enriched by a not over-stimu- 



