THE HYACINTH. 331 



this situation for one or two months, according to the 

 temperature in which they are placed, and should not be 

 too suddenly transferred to the light. Here, as with 

 Hyacinths in pots, when the flowering is over the bulbs 

 may be brought gradually into a state of rest by a diminu- 

 tion of the supply of water. This done, dry them, store 

 them away, and in due season plant them in beds out of 

 doors to bloom there the following year. 



3. Hyacinths in the Open Ground. I have never yet 

 seen so much done with the Hyacinth as an out-of-door 

 plant as I conceive might be done on principles similar to 

 those which have been so admirably carried out in regard 

 to " bedding plants." We have here red, white, and blue 

 to say nothing of the so-called yellow of innumerable 

 shades. Surely there is ample material for a more 

 extended application of those principles, especially if the 

 aid of the Tulip be called in. The Tulip gives an abun- 

 dance of yellow, a colour deficient in the Hyacinth. By 

 the combination of these two flowers, a gorgeous and 

 complete flower-garden may be had in spring as well as in 

 summer, and neither a repetition of the other, but each a 

 change. 



The Hyacinth is an admirable spring flower. It 

 suffers less from wind and snow, from sleet and hail, than 

 many hardy spring flowers ; indeed, almost less than any 

 other. To-day the snow falls and the plant is hidden and 

 frozen ; to-morrow the sun shines, and it is as erect and 

 bright as ever. 



Hyacinths out of doors should also be planted in 

 the autumn (November). Let the apex of the bulb be 

 placed four inches beneath the surface of the soil, and after 

 the soil is put on add two inches of decomposed manure 

 as a security against severe frost. In February, when all 

 fear of severe frost is gone, the manure may be removed. 

 The same soil as that recommended for pot culture is 

 suitable for Hyacinths out of doors. But it may not 

 be generally convenient to remove and replace soil in the 



