THE HYACINTH. 67 



blooms. Double varieties are not fitted for growing in 

 water or for very early forcing ; and generally, for growing 

 in the house, the single varieties are to be preferred. 



PLANTING IN BEDS. 



Hyacinths are most effective in the garden ; and, the beds 

 having been prepared of a proper compost, the bulbs may 

 be planted in October. 



Varieties should not be mixed, as they vary greatly in 

 height, general habit, and time of blooming, so that a mix- 

 ture is sure to produce a bad effect. Therefore, whether 

 they be planted in lines or clumps, let each line or clump 

 be of one variety, and, of course, of one color. 



The bulbs should be planted three or four inches deep, 

 according to the size ; the larger being planted deeper, and 

 about six inches apart, in lines or double lines ; a foot 

 being allowed between each line, and six inches between 

 each double line. A very pretty way is to fill the bed with 

 triangles of three bulbs of the same color, taking care to 

 let the colors of the different triangles contrast well, and 

 not to plant two triangles of the same color together ; the 

 two bulbs at the base of each triangle being nine inches 



