Hunnemannia 



Hyacinth 



gross growth and as- 

 sume tin' normal grn. 

 Lupulus, 0' to 10', sum., 

 hdy., grn., yel. ; male 

 mid female, the latter 



in round spikes orheads. 

 Of tlic cultivated vars. 

 tlie White Bines, Hi-am- 

 blings, and (inklings are 

 some of the best known. 



HUNNEMANNIA. 



One species only goes to make up this genus 



(nnl. Papaveraceee). It is a half-hardy 

 perennial, that likes a rich, well-pulverised soil. 

 Propagation, by seeds sown in the open ground 

 Inwards the end of the summer. The seedlings 



HYUUAXUKA HOUTKXSIA AUi.l (seep. 435). 



need protection during the winter, and in the 

 spring may be planted out in their flowering 

 Quarters. 



Only Species: 



r'tiinariasfolia, 2' to 3', Jy., Oct., hlf-hrty., yel., 

 Ivs. like those of Eschscholtzia californica. 



HUTCHINSIA. 



This genus (nrd. Cruoiferae) is nearly related to 

 Iberis and Iberidella. The chief s]iecies is a hand- 

 some little rockery plant which may be increased 

 by seeds in spring. The soil should be light and 

 sandy, and the position bright and sunny, to get 

 the hcsl results. 



Principal Species : 



alpin.-r, 6", spr., huV., per., pctnra, 3", spr., hdy. 

 wli., a pretty Alpin". ami., a native. 



l.nlns (x"f \ I/ill />lln n). 

 lllllltlci/it. (.1-1: Xi 



HYACINTH. 



The parents of the hundreds of handsome, 

 large-flowered, bulbs known as Hyacinths are 

 Hyacinthus orientals and tlie sub-species H. o. 

 provincial!* (prtt. Liliaceae), whilst the so-called 

 Roman Hyacinths are the progeny of ,H. o. albnlus, 

 not of romanus, as the name would sugtreM. 



Points of a Good Bulb. A good bulb should be 

 sound, hard, well ripened, and heavy in proportion 

 to its size. There should be no softness near the 

 crown or base when gentle pressure is applied with 

 tlie thumb. It should also be deep, that is, its 

 vertical should be greater than its horizontal 

 diameter. A rough exterior does not matter in the 

 .-lightest; indeed, experts have been known to 

 express their preference for "rough " bulbs. 



Propagation. This is chiefly performed by the 

 Dutch growers. New varieties are comparatively 

 rare ; they are generally raised from seeds. 



Culture in Pots. The bulbs should be obtained 

 early in September, and potted up without delay. 

 For the smaller bulbs 4", for the larger o" pots wi'll 

 be found suitable, one bulb being placed in each 

 pot. 



Soil. Loam two parts, dried cow manure rubbed 

 through a sieve one part, and leaf mould one part, 

 with sand. 



Other Cultural Points. Pot fairly firmly, and 

 let the shoulders of the bulb just peep out of the 

 soil. After potting, stand the plants on an ash 

 bottom out of doors, cover each bulb with an 

 empty, inverted pot, and bury the whole in ashes, 

 preferably those from coal fires, or Cocoanut fibre, 

 (jreat caution is needed in employing the ashes 

 from gas fires, for contact with these has frequently 

 been known to burn the tender growths. The bulbs 

 should remain in the plunging beds for about six 

 weeks, by the expiration of which time root action 

 will be vigorous, and the young tops will be from 

 y to 1" long. At this stage remove the plants to 

 a cool, shady frame, gradually inure them to the 

 light, and thereafter introduce them to heat as 

 they are required. Forcing should never be hard. 

 Usually a mean temperature of about (!0 is ample ; 

 a rise to 70 means weakened foliage and thin, 

 unsubstantial flowers. The more gradual the 

 forcing, the finer the flowers will be. 



Culture in Glasses. Special glasses are mad 

 with shoulders upon which the bulbs may sit, 

 their bases just touching the water. It has been 

 stated that if the bulbs touch the water they will 

 rot, but the experience of the writer is that it 

 makes little or no difference. The glasses should 

 be filled with soft water, a piece of charcoal the 

 size of a large Hazel nut being placed in each. 

 After six weeks in a dark cupboard, to help root 

 formation, the plants may be brought to the light. 



Roman Hyacinths. These are specially adapted 

 to early forcing, and the flowers are handy for 

 cutting. Six bulbs may be placed in a <i" pot, 

 or a greater number in shallow boxes of fibre. 

 The white variety is the commonest, but blue 

 and pink varieties are also obtainable. They 

 chielly come from France. 



Culture Out of Doors. The usual practice in 

 this country is to force the bulbs tor one season 

 only in pots or glasses, and then throw them awa\ . 

 If properly ripened off, however, Hyacinths will 

 produce very fair (lowers in the second and sub- 

 sequent years. Although they arc not suitable for 

 forcing, they may well be planted out in the open 

 borders, or even in the grass, and left to take care 

 of themselves. I'lant earlv in autumn. From 2" 



