FORCING BULBS 49 



for the florist, who uses it for making up. Its lightness is 

 greatly in its favour, and it finds its place in bouquets and floral 

 designs. The bulbs are only half the size of the Dutch hyacinth, 

 and a 6-inch pot will easily accommodate a half dozen. They 

 reach this country at the beginning of August, and are almost 

 immediately boxed or potted, and stood in the open and covered 

 with ashes. 



In boxes the bulbs may be almost touching each other pro- 

 vided there is a sufficient depth of soil in which the roots can- 

 run. In less than six weeks the roots will have made considerable 

 headway and top growth will become active, and when the spikes 

 are about an inch high the most forward may be taken into a 

 cool house preparatory for forcing, according to the date at 

 which they are wanted. Bulbs must not be rushed, hence the 

 advisability of having a house in which first to stand them, 

 intermediate between the open air and the forcing house. 



Ten days or a fortnight after the first selection has been made,, 

 the regular in-taking of relays should be carried on, as nothing is 

 more annoying than a hiatus between the batches when the season 

 has once commenced. 



The cultural directions are simple and few. Never allow 

 them to become dry in their growing stage, and also do not let 

 them get into a sodden state. This and a daily syringing are 

 all we need here point out. 



The ordinary Dutch hyacinths are massive and columnar 

 compared with the Romans, and are grown early almost exclu- 

 sively as pot plants. As a cut flower it is at a discount, except 

 that when other flowers are scarce the florist will pick the 

 individual florets and wire them according to his needs. Three 

 or four pips of a good white, wired singly and then together in 

 open order, are quite effective in most designs, but, as stated, 

 the hyacinth is primarily a pot plant when forced. The bulbs 

 are large, and only one can be grown in a 5-inch pot. 



When potting, the crown of the bulb should be f inch below 

 the level of the rim and just covered with compost. It should 

 be potted firmly. See that the drainage is good, for these soft, 

 fleshy bulbs are very susceptible to the danger of too much 

 moisture, which simply rots them. 



