Culture of Hyacinths at Berlin. 353 



and complicated, but not always effectual in the destruction of 

 the insects ; while they are frequently injurious to the plants. 



Many gardeners, however, are successful in cleaning their plants; 

 and, at your request, I give you an account of the plan I adopted 

 with the stock under my charge, which has removed all the scale 

 from the plants and pits, as none have been seen for more than 

 a year and a half past, although I found them in the state your 

 correspondent refers to, p. 160. 



The intended existence of the pine plant is only of short du- 

 ration ; and, when arrived nearly at its full size, in a state over- 

 spread with the scale, it is then doomed to undergo some severe 

 treatment, to make it appear more comely. Rather, I would 

 say, take the young crowns and suckers, before ever being in pots 

 at all, and rear them up through their successive stages in a 

 clean and healthy state. 



I put them all into a tub sufficiently large to contain the plants, 

 and fill the tub with soapsuds from a laundress, and one sixth of 

 good tobacco-water, the mixture being warmed to 90°; and, if 

 thought too strong for the plants, it may be reduced by adding 

 water. I tried a few first, to see how they would bear it ; and I 

 allowed them to remain in the liquid for five or six hours; I 

 then took them out, and, after washing them in cold water di- 

 rectly on taking them out, I put them on a dry back shelf in the 

 pine-pit, top downwards, till they were sufficiently dry, and then 

 potted them, and plunged the pots in a hot-bed frame, with a good 

 heat. In this way I have obtained a clean healthy stock of pine 

 plants from those originally infested with myriads of the scale. 



The old stock I fruited off, and kept all the others infested 

 with the scale separate from those that I had operated upon. 

 The pits, as they were emptied, I had well washed with hot 

 water, afterwards with hot lime, mixed with a portion of blue 

 black, and a little sulphur. The black was to take off the white 

 appearance in the pits above the tan, and to make the walls 

 nearer the colour of the bloom which is on the plants when they 

 are in a healthy state. The stock now consists, for the greater 

 part, of queens, including a few Envilles, globes, and white Pro- 

 vidences ; all of which have gone through the same process, and 

 all are now clean. 



Champioji Hill^ Camberwell, May 24. 1836. 



Art. V. On the Mode in 'which Hyacinths are grotvn in the Neigh- 

 bourhood of Berlin. By Mr. W. D. Brackenridge, now in the 

 Berlin Botanic Garden. 



Having lately paid a visit to the hyacinth growers in Berlin, I 

 was so much struck with the vast quantities of well-grown bulbs 



D D 3 



