BULBS AND THEIR CULTIVATION, 



near to a light window, and turn the bowl round a little 

 every day, so that all sides of the plant get sun and light 

 in due course. After flowering, the bulbs should be care- 

 fully planted out in a spare corner in the garden, where in 

 future years they may yield flowers for cutting. For cul- 

 ture in bowls fresh bulbs should be procured annually, and 

 these ought also to be of the finest quality. See also the 

 remarks regarding supporting the flower spikes on p. 87. 



Hyacinths in Moss. Hyacinths may also be grown 

 in moss, as follows: Procure ordinary moss from a damp 

 hedge, bank, or wood; tie this into a ball about eight 

 inches or so in diameter, then arrange hyacinth bulbs all 

 round, adding moss to fill the space between the bulbs, and 

 interlacing this with string as the work proceeds to keep 

 the bulbs in position. When finished, run a stout piece of 

 wire through the centre, and form a loop at one end, so 

 that the ball can be hung up in a cool, dark cellar. Be- 

 fore hanging up the ball dip it in water. As soon as 

 growth has begun, bring the ball to a light window, and 

 dip in water two or three times a week. In due course 

 the bulbs will send forth spikes radiating in every direc- 

 tion, and you will have, a distinct floral novelty. Cro- 

 cuses and tulips could be grown in a similar way, only the 

 ball should be smaller in size. 



Kinds to Grow. It is possible to grow with great 

 success a, number of kinds. Hyacinths do extremely well 

 in moss-fibre. White Eoman hyacinths, for example, 

 may be had in flower at Christmas time and the New 

 Year by planting them in August. Snowdrops and scillas, 

 also chionodoxas planted at the same time will flower 

 early in January. 



The lange-flowered Dutch hyacinths, likewise the dainty 

 little miniature kinds, are incomparably pretty when in 

 flower. We particularly recommend the latter, which 

 only grow about six inches high, especially the varieties 



