244 BRECK’S NEW BOOK OF FLOWERS. 
of fine sand where each roet is to be placed, then press 
the bulb into the soil nearly its whole thickness, and 
cover it completely with fine clean sand.’ Having com- 
pleted the planting, the whole may be covered with sound, 
fresh, sandy earth, four inches deep. Before winter sets 
in, Hyacinths should be covered a few inches deep with 
leaves, straw, meadow hay, or any other light substance ; 
they are, however, perfectly hardy, but the bloom is 1more 
perfect when thus covered. In selecting bulbs, be careful 
to procure good sound roots; for an imperfect root is not 
worth planting, and there are many sold every year, by 
thousands, at auction, which are generally the refuse of 
the Dutch gardens. A good root is perfectly hard, and 
bright, without specks of rot upon it, and one that has not 
pushed a bud. Roots of the fin€st varieties can be pur- 
chased for fifteen to twenty dollars per hundred, with 
their names and colors; and very fair sorts for less; and 
mixed sorts, with colors distinct, from six to ten dollars a 
hundred. 
In about one month after the bloom is over, and the 
foliage begins to turn yellow, the bulbs may be taken up; 
then cut off the flower stems, but not the foliage, and, hav- 
ing prepared a sloping bed of light earth, the bulbs may 
be laid upon it, so as not to touch, with the foliage down- 
wards, covering the roots and fibres with earth. Here 
they remain till the bulbs are sufficiently ripened, which 
will be in about a fortnight, when they may be taken up,, 
and, after they have been dried, cleared from the fibres, 
soil, ete., they are wrapped up in papers, dry sand, or dry 
sawdust, and kept in a dry place until wanted for use. 
Or the roots may remain in the bed until the foliage has 
completely died down, and then taken up, dried and 
cleaned, as before stated. 
