84; A Year's Cultiue of the Hyacinth, 



bulbs and full strong flowers (so much so, that the flower is out 

 of proportion with the bulb), that should have the flower-stalk 

 cut off as soon as the flowers have expanded, in order that the 

 plant may not die of exhaustion. Henri IV. belongs to this 

 kind. Tt is rather expensive, but very beautiful. 



A strong wind after flowering is very injurious ; because, as 

 the bulbs are then only beginning to increase in size, the wind 

 blowing them backwards and forwards must retard their growth, 

 and be very injurious to them generally. This is generally ob- 

 viated by thick edges or palings; and, where there are only a 

 few beds, they can be protected with less trouble. 



May. — Attention must be paid in this month to keep the 

 bulbs free of weeds, and to see that none of their leaves are 

 haneino; down here and there, which is a sign that the bulbs 

 have not been deep enough planted. 



June. — Time for removal. Those bulbs which are in too 

 stiff a soil are generally taken out in the beginning of June, 

 while they are still increasing in size. This must not be neg- 

 lected ; because, although they may appear fine large bulbs, 

 they would, if suffered to exhaust themselves, either wither on 

 the drying-boards, or, for the most part, would perish the fol- 

 lowing year. They are easily known by their very luxuriant 

 and beautiful growth at this time (the beginning of June), in a 

 soil which is not sufficiently sandy, or contains too much rich 

 or stiff" soil; and their beautiful growth must not induce you to 

 let them remain longer in it, as mischief would be sure to fol- 

 low. It is, indeed, very possible, that the bulbs may afterwards 

 shrivel in some degree, and become mouldy by being disturbed 

 while they are increasing in size ; but, as this can be remedied 

 by cleaning and trimming them carefully, there is nothing to be 

 dreaded. 



Those plants which are only moderately luxuriant may re- 

 main in the ground till the end of June; but the usual time is 

 the middle of this month. A yellow or withered appearance at 

 the tips of the leaves is a sure sign that they have done grow- 

 ing; and, when this is the case, it is advisable to take them out. 

 Dry weather, during this operation, is indispensably necessary; 

 therefore, when there is not a continuation of fine weather, every 

 moment of dry weather or sunshine should be taken advantage 

 of; but in very warm situations, where the sun has too great 

 a power on the sand, care must be taken that those bulbs 

 which are taken out and laid on the ground do not perish by 

 the too great heat of the sun. In that case, this operation 

 should be performed in the morning. 



The manner of taking out the bulbs in Holland is nearly as 

 follows : — First, all the leaves are pulled up in the same way as 

 you would pull out weeds. The bulb remains in the ground. 



