342 TIIE PLEASURE, OR [April. 



cient both for the roots and bloom; and after the bloom is over, they 

 are rather prejudicial than otherwise, except when very moderate. 



Although covering in the manner described presents and exhibits 

 the bloom to the greatest advantage, yet it evidently has a tendency 

 to weaken and injure the bulbs, and ought not, therefore, to be con- 

 tinued more than two or three weeks at most; but as soon as the 

 general bloom declines, the bed should be immediatelv exposed to 

 the open air, and the hoops replaced as before, that mats may be 

 laid on occasionally for protecting the beds from heavy torrents 

 of rain, which would prevent the bulbs from ripening well, and 

 render them very subject to decay after having been taken up. 



The common hyacinths in open beds and borders, will require 

 no other care at this time than to support their flower stems, as 

 directed above, without which they will generally fall down, and 

 much of their beauty be lost. 



A Description of the Properties of a Fine Double Hyacinth. 



The stem should be strong, tall, and erect, supporting numerous 

 large bells, each suspended by a short and strong peduncle, or 

 foot-stalk, in a horizontal position, so that the whole may have a 

 compact pyramidal form with the crown, or uppermost bell, per- 

 fectly erect. 



The bells should be large and very double; that is, well filled 

 with broad bold petals, appearing to the eye rather convex than 

 flat or hollow: they should occupy about one-half the length of the 

 stem. 



The colours should be clear and bright, whether plain red, white, 

 or blue, or variously intermixed and diversified in the eye; the 

 latter, it must be confessed, gives additional lustre and elegance to 

 this beautiful flower. 



Strong bright colours are, in general, preferred to such as are 

 pale; there are, however, many rose-coloured, pure white, and light 

 blue hyacinths, in high estimation. 



Observations. Some sorts consist of petals of different colours, 

 such as light reds, with deep red eyes; whites, with rosy, blue, 

 purple, or yellow eyes; light blues, with deep blue or purple eyes; 

 and yellow, with purple in the eye, &c. Others again have their 

 petals striped or marked down the centre with a paler or deeper 

 colour, which has a pleasing effect. 



It sometimes happens, and with some sorts more frequently than 

 others, that two stems are produced from the same root, one is 

 generally considerably taller than the other; when this is the case, 

 the weaker may be cut off' near the ground soon after it makes its 

 appearance or suffered to bloom, and its bells be intermixed with 

 the lower ones of the taller stem, so dexterously as to appear like 

 one regular pyramid of bells. 



Tulips. 



Towards the end of this month, some of your choice tulips will 

 begin to show colour; they should, when the greater part of the 



