THE HYACINTH. 69 



lating manure. Fresh leaves being put in every autumn, 

 the beds annually receive a dressing of vegetable matter, 

 which saves dung, and, in dry summers especially, the roots 

 [of bedding-plants] lay hold of the decomposing leaves 

 when the plants are becoming exhausted by blooming. 

 The beds should slope from the centre to the sides ; and the 

 borders, from the back to the front." 



PLANTING IN WATER. 



As we have said, the single varieties are preferable for 

 forcing in water, sand, or moss. The heaviest bulbs, with 

 no offsets, or marks of imperfection or decay at the base, 

 should be chosen. They should be placed in the glasses 

 about the first of November ; the glasses being filled with 

 rain or river water, and the base of the bulb just touching 

 the water. They should then be placed in a dark place 

 where the temperature does not exceed 50, and remain 

 about a month, or until the roots are three or four inches 

 in length. They may then be brought out to the light, and 

 gradually inured to full sunshine. As the water evapo- 

 rates, it must be supplied, and must be changed as often as 

 it becomes discolored or impure ; or it may be kept sweet 



