Gardening in Californi 



pots are filled with roots, they may be brought into the green- 

 house and gradually exposed to the light. Pot successive lots 

 of bulbs so as to maintain a continuous supply of flowers from 

 early in November until February when they begin blooming 

 out of doors. 



Large-flowering Hyacinths. As soon as the bulbs arrive, 

 have them unpacked at once and placed in a cool place until they 

 can be potted. The most important point in Hyacinth growing 

 is in the preparation of the soil which should be composed of 

 good yellow loam, old dry cow-manure rubbed through a half- 

 inch sieve, some coarse leaf-mold, and enough sand to keep it 

 open. This compost should be well-mixed together by being 

 turned over several times, and should be left to mellow at least 

 one month before being used. For single bulbs of Hyacinths, 

 use a pot having a diameter of five inches. Crock the pot by 

 placing one flat piece of crock over the hole in the bottom of the 

 pot; over this place two inches of potsherds broken into small 

 pieces, and, to keep the soil from choking the drainage, above 

 these place a thin^ layer of moss; then fill the pot loosely with 

 the soil, making a hole with the hand for the reception of the 

 bulb and placing a handful of sand in the cavity; on this place 

 the bulb ; press down the bulb and soil together and make the soil 

 firm with the fingers, leaving the crown of the bulb a little above 

 the soil. Give a good watering and place out of doors on a bed 

 of ashes on a site with a Northern exposure and cover to the depth 

 of six inches as previously advised for Roman Hyacinths. Here 

 they should remain for about six weeks when they should be 

 examined, and, when the pots are well-filled with roots, they may 

 be removed to a cool place in the greenhouse and gradually 

 exposed to light and air, or to warmer quarters if desired to 

 flower early. 



Hyacinths, to flower in glasses, should be solely of the single- 

 flowering varieties, and only good-sized firm bulbs should be 

 selected. Nearly fill the glasses with soft water (rain water 



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