82 A Yearns Culture of the Hyacinth^ 



there. When there is but one bed to be planted, it is advis- 

 able, if not thought too much trouble, to put a layer of sand 

 where the bulbs are to be placed, or only a little on the very 

 spot on which each bulb is to be placed. 



With regard to the space between each bulb, eight of those 

 that are capable of producing flowers are planted on the extent 

 of 3^ ft. ; but they must always be put nearer or further apart, 

 according to the strength of the bulbs. Very small bulbs, or 

 those not capable of producing flowers, are not planted singly, 

 but are sown in rows, as it is of no consequence whether the 

 sides or points of these bulbs are next the ground. 



Those kinds which grow high and strong should, in general, 

 be planted the deepest, that is, 5 or 6 inches deep. Those kinds 

 that grow low should not be planted so deep ; but those kinds 

 which are liable to produce an excess of offsets (Durchwachs) 

 must be planted the deepest of all, viz. 6 in. Among the latter 

 may be mentioned in particular I'Amie du Cceur, It must 

 also be particularly observed, that, when the soil is stiff, the 

 bulbs must not be planted so deep as when the soil is light. It 

 can be best ascertained during the warm days in spring, if the 

 bulbs have not been planted deep enough ; because, when that 

 is the case, the leaves begin to flag ; while those that are too 

 deep in the soil assume a yellowish appearance. They then 

 become rather smaller than larger, and have a withered appear- 

 ance. Those of a very small sort are generally not planted so 

 deep as the other kinds ; such as la Duchesse de Parma, la Mar- 

 quise de la Coste, le Bonaparte, le Roi Spheros, le Kaiser Alex- 

 andre, &c. 



The weather should be dry during the time of planting. If 

 there is a continuance of rain after a space of fourteen days, it 

 is very injurious; because, as the germ prevents the bulb from 

 being completely closed, the water finds its way in, and causes 

 the bulb to rot. 



Forced hyacinths should be planted in a lighter soil, because 

 it makes them flower sooner ; and those bulbs which are diffi- 

 cult to flower, or which are apt to flower late, should have a 

 light dry soil. Care must be taken, as already observed, that 

 bulbs are not planted again on the same bed for the space of 

 five years; and every year a change of soil must be given, 

 either lighter or stiffer; such as, if the previous soil had been 

 light, it should now be very light, or a stiff soil : but it must be 

 remembered that all those with white flowers do not generally 

 do so well in a stiff soil as most of those with blue flowers, and 

 all those kinds which are apt to have the rot must ver^' seldom 

 be planted in a stiff soil. Yet bulbs which are grown in a stiff 

 soil sometimes, to our great astonishment, produce beautiful 

 flowers ; but they generally perish before the next time of plant- 



