April.] FLOWER GARDEN. 34 j 



which are not easily raised by common grafting or budding, or by 

 seeds, layers, or cuttings, or any of the other general methods. 



The evergreen kinds may be inarched towards the end of this 

 month, but deciduous sorts generally succeed best when done about 

 the middle of it. For the method see page 256. 



THE PLEASURE, OR FLOWER GARDEN. 



Choice Hyacinths. 



The earlier sorts of hyacinths will begin to open and show colour 

 in the beginning of this month; it will be proper to screen the finer 

 sorts from the too powerful effects of the sun, which, if not prevent- 

 ed, would bleach and tarnish their colours, particularly the reds 

 and deep blues, but if they are properly defended from it, their 

 colours will be preserved, and they will, in some measure, be kept 

 back so as to be in full bloom with the later sorts, especially if the 

 roots of the early kinds have been planted about an inch deeper 

 than the rest: it is a very desirable object in a grand display of this 

 delightful Bower to have a uniform bloom. 



It will be necessary to support the stems as they advance in 

 height; for this purpose small sticks or wires, painted green, should 

 be forced into the ground immediately behind the bulbs, either in 

 an erect position or leaning a little backwards, to which the stems 

 are to be rather loosely tied with small pieces of green worsted as 

 soon as they begin to bend, or are in danger of being borne down 

 by the weight of their bells;* this operation must be repeated as 

 they advance in height, for it is impossible to do it at one time, 

 so as to answer the purpose. When the greater part of the bed 

 appears in colour, a covering or awning should be erected over it, 

 and the walk to be in front: for the support of the awning, a strong 

 frame of wood should be erected, ten feet high in the centre, and 

 seven feet at each side, and covered with strong sheeting, which 

 will keep out the rain and admit a tolerable degree of light; it 

 should come down close to the bed on the north side, in order to 

 preserve it from cold winds, which are prejudicial to the bloom. 



The covering ought to be so constructed by means of lines and 

 pullies, as to be easily and expeditiously rolled up, or let down, as 

 occasion requires, to afford the plants the full benefit of light and 

 air at all favourable opportunities; that is to say, when the air is 

 mild, and light clouds intervene, so as to blunt the sun's rays. 



A bed of hyacinths never require to be watered at any period; 

 the rains that happen after planting, are generally more than sufii- 



* The Florist's usual name for the corolla of the hyacinth. 



