HYACINTHS, SUCCULENTS, AND EVERGREENS. 149 



To have this plant in bloom for Christmas, when it is par- 

 ticularly valuable on account of the scarcity of pure white 

 flowers at that season, we should pot the bulbs the latter 

 part of September ; set the pots in a dark place, watering 

 moderately for about three weeks. The pots will then be 

 full of roots, Ihd the plants may be set in the window ; the 

 shoots will grow rapidly and soon show flowers. 



Botanically this plant is Bellevalia operculata, sometimes 

 Hyacinthus romanus. 



Bulbs cost about six dollars a hundred. 



SUCCULENTS. 



The plants known as Succulents comprise many genera 

 varying much in appearance, but all requiring the same 

 general culture. The soil should be porous, well drained, and 

 sandy loam. The pots should generally be small, as a ma- 

 jority of these plants are low, flat growers. Great care should 

 be used in watering, lest an excess make the plant rot oiF. 



With few exception, these plants are valuable only for 

 their neat and attractive growth or for beautiful foliage ; some 

 however are very beautiful in flower. 



At present these plants are very popular, and many fine 

 collections exist, numbering many hundreds of species. 



