September 12, 1878. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
199 
WEEKLY CALENDAR. 
46. 
. 7 Average Sun Sun Moon | Moon | Moon’s olock: Day, 
SEPTEMBER 12—18, 1878. em Bera cite near | Rises. | Sets. | Rises. | Sets. | Age. petore ay tay 
Day. |Night.)Mean.| h. m.} h. m.| h. m.| h. m] Days. | mM. & 
Glasgow and Northampton Shows. 68.8 | 44.8 | 56.8 5) 32) |) 6) 21) | 6! 14) 6 21 15 3 48 | 255 
67.8 | 45.6 56.7 5 33 6 18 6 26 7 30 16 4 9 | 256 
Sale of Bulbs at Stevens’s Rooms. 66.7 | 46.3 | 56.5 5 35 6 16 6 40 8 39 17 4 30 | 257 
13 SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY. 67.1 46.2 56.8 5 36 6 14 6 57 9 50 18 4 51 | 258 
68.3 | 47.5 | 57.9 5 38 6 12 UPA || S65 al 19 5 13 | 259 
Royal Horticultural Society—Fruit and Floral Com- | 69.1 | 45.7 | 57.4 5 40/ 6 9 7 47 | Oal3 20 5 34 | 260 
[ mittees at 11 A.M. | 66.8 46.8 | 56.8 5 41 6) 257 8 27 beat) 21 6 16 | 261 
From observations taken near London during forty-three years, the average day temperature of the week is 67.8°; and its night temperature 
BULBOUS PLANTS FOR WINTER AND SPRING 
DECORATION. 
ARIOUS nurserymen’s catalogues and adver- 
tisements of the Hyacinth and other Dutch 
culture of bulbs, and also which varieties to 
select, may be useful to those who have 
9 hitherto had but little success in the manage- 
ment of these fragrant and beautiful flowers, 
oY which with care may be had in beauty from 
December until the first week in April. 
To have Hyacinths in flower at the earliest time 
here mentioned bulbs of the Roman Hyacinth must 
Y be purchased at once and potted on arrival, placing 
five or six bulbs in a 6-inch pot, using a compost of light 
loam, plenty of sand, and leaf soil. After potting plunge 
the pots up to the rims, covering the tops over with a thick 
coating of cocoa-nut fibre, which may be purchased very 
cheaply and does not injure the bulbs like coal ashes. 
Roman Hyacinths cannot be compared with the Dutch 
Hyacinth for magnificence of spike and beauty, being more 
like our wild wood variety ; but for earliness of flowering, 
combined with the purity of its flowers, it is fast becoming | 
a popular favourite for the making of bouquets, wreaths, 
and other decorative purposes. When the potting and 
plunging are completed the bulbs may be left undisturbed 
until the beginning or middle of October, or later, according 
to the time required for flowering. The most advanced at 
that time should be collected and removed to a frame or 
pit and brought on very gradually, much in the same way 
as is directed for the larger-flowering varieties ; but at no 
time subject them to a strong temperature, or they will 
become drawn and lanky. Give water copiously when the 
plants are throwing up their miniature spikes and while in 
flower. For mixing in conservatory borders or for front 
lines potfuls of Roman Hyacinths will be found invaluable 
and last a long time in flower. 
Having now for several years grown some very good 
examples of what are termed Dutch Hyacinths for exhi- 
bition, and that with a fair amount of success, I can strongly 
recommend the following thirty-six varieties as constant and 
to be relied upon for uniform and handsome spikes :—Reds : 
Charles Dickens, Emmeline, Fabiola, Gigantea, Ornement 
de la Nature, Macaulay, Prince Albert Victor, Princess Clo- 
thilde, and Von Schiller. Whites: La Grandesse, Grandeur 
& Merveille, Madame Van der Hoop, Baroness Van Tuyll, 
Alba Maxima, Paix de l'Europe, Alba Superbissima, and 
Mont Blane. Blues: Grand Lilas, Blondin, Lord Derby, 
Charles Dickens, King of the Blues, Baron Van Tuyll, 
Marie, and General Havelock. Lilac or Mauve: De Can- 
dolle, Haydn, and Sir Henry Havelock. Yellow: Bird of 
Paradise and Ida. The thirty varieties named are all 
single, and the following half-dozen are amongst the best 
of the double varieties and complete the number mentioned 
above :—Koh-i-Noor, Lord Wellington, Blocksberg, Garrick, 
Laurens Koster, and Van Speyk. 
The best twelve varieties are undoubtedly Koh-i-Noor, 
Von Schiller, Macaulay of the reds ; La Grandesse, Grandeur | 
NO. 91.—VOL. XXXV., NEW SERIES. 
a Merveille, Alba Maxima, and Baroness Van Tuyll of the 
whites ; King of the Blues, Grand Lilas, Charles Dickens, 
and Baron Van Tuyll of the blues ; with the yellow Bird 
of Paradise. Other varieties may produce equally large 
spikes and fine bells, but those named are always constant, 
and will be found in every prize collection. To still further 
select : Von Schiller and Macaulay are the very best of the 
reds ; La Grandesse and Grandeur a Merveille take the 
same place amongst the whites ; while King of the Blues 
and Grand Lilas are in the foremost rank amongst the blue 
varieties. 
Having giving the selection I will state the best way to 
proceed with their successful culture, observing first that 
those who contemplate growing for exhibition should order 
three or more bulbs of the same varieties; for it may so 
| happen that if only one bulb is ordered it may not be fully 
matured and produce a spike somewhat too small, or it 
may throw up two or more trusses instead of one very large 
one. The vendors of these bulbs no doubt try their very 
best to select solid and well-matured bulbs, but Nature will 
at times deceive the most experienced. All varieties do 
not become matured at the same age, and therefore those 
who wish to gain first honours should grow several bulbs of 
a few constant varieties rather than one each of a greater 
number of sorts, and then form a selection from the very 
best spikes produced. A well-grown Hyacinth should have 
the foliage tolerably short, broad, and stout, so that it stands 
bold and erect; the stem of the flower spike should not 
be longer than the leaves, and the spike should be fully 
developed above the leaves. As soon as the bulbs arrive 
it may be well to examine them, and those intended for 
exhibition should be put carefully away until the middle 
or end of October, when they may be potted; but those 
intended for forcing should be potted at once, using a good 
mixture of sandy loam, leaf soil, and thoroughly decayed 
dry cow manure. 
Have in readiness a sufficient quantity of 48 and 32-sized 
pots, using a fair amount of good drainage, fill the pots 
with the compost ; make a hole with the fingers sufficiently 
large to receive the bulb, which should be placed in sharp 
silver sand, the top of the bulb to be on the level with the 
top of the pot. When potted press the soil firmly all round. 
By adopting this method the bulbs while making their 
roots are not so likely to be lifted out of the soil as when 
they are pressed down into the compost. Place the pots 
out of doors on a hard bottom, and cover sufficiently with 
cocoa-nut fibre refuse to keep out sharp frost. In this 
position they should remain until the first week in the new 
year, when the fibre can be easily cleaned from them, and 
the bulbs gradually inured to the light. For the first few 
days after removal either small pots should be inverted over 
the bleached crowns or they should be shaded with a mat 
until they become green. The flower spikes are plainly 
visible while in this undeveloped state, so that a look-out 
must be made for slugs, mice, &c., or they may cripple an 
otherwise good spike of bloom. 
A low span-roof pit or a shelf near the glass in a green- 
house are good places to bring them along gradually to 
bloom during March. No forcing will be required from 
NO 1563—VOL.‘LX., OLD SERIES. 
