188 FLORA DOMESTICA. 



can reach it, and it should have as much air as can con- 

 veniently be admitted into an inhabited room. The bulb 

 will soon send out strong fibres below, and the stem will 

 shoot above: these fibres form no mean portion of the 

 beauty of the Hyacinth, and plead for its being placed in 

 water rather than in earth. After it has begun to shoot, 

 the water should be changed once a week, and before the 

 stem is bent by the weight of the flower, it should be tied 

 with a bit of green worsted to a stick, which some of the 

 bulb- glasses are purposely made to admit. 



Some persons have an earthenware vessel with a cover 

 perforated with holes to admit the bottom of the bulbs : 

 this being filled with water up to the cover, and a bulb 

 placed upon each hole, with the bottom just dipping into 

 the water, a number of flowers may be blown together, 

 which will make a handsome display. The beauty of the 

 fibrous roots is here as entirely lost as if the bulbs were 

 planted in earth, an objection which would be obviated by 

 using a vessel of glass in preference to one of earthenware, 

 and their beauty would be seen to even greater advantage. 

 Some persons put a little nitre in the water, which is said 

 to improve the brightness of the colours in the flower. 



When the bulbs are planted in earth, it should be done 

 between November and February, and they should be 

 placed within sight of the sun. A soil proper for them 

 may be obtained from a nursery-man in the habit of fur- 

 nishing plants, &c. The pot should be about seven inches 

 in depth ; the crown of the bulb about an inch and a half, 

 or two inches deep, according to the size. When the 

 plant begins to appear, the earth should be gently watered 

 twice or thrice a week, as may be requisite to keep it 

 rather moist. Fresh air may be admitted when conve- 

 nient, as directed for those in water. 



The flowers will blow in a shorter or longer time from 



