KItEPS ON HYACINTHS. 525 



time they ought to be kept close shut ; likewise in the morn- 

 ing and evening at all times. 



Every precaution ought to be taken to prevent the humid 

 vapours arising from the bulbs settling on them, which occa- 

 sions putrefaction : it is for this reason that rooms or garrets, 

 which are lined with wainscoat, or have wooden partitions, or 

 that are built entirely of wood, are preferable to walls of 

 stones, brick or plaster. It seems that stone walls particu- 

 larly attract the humid and moist vapours ; for, if the wea- 

 ther remains cloudy for two or three days together, these 

 kinds of walls appear covered with a moisture which scarce 

 ever happens to those of wood. In the month of September 

 the sap in the bulbs begins to move, and it then becomes 

 highly necessary to pay particular attention to them, because 

 at that period they are most subject to putrefaction, by 

 sucking up the same vapours which they have evaporated in 

 the months of July and August, if proper care has not been 

 taken to keep them in dry and airy rooms. 



This remark will appear to many people absurd and ridi- 

 culous, but experience has taught us the truth of it, and the 

 considerable losses we have sustained have confirmed it. 



Again, amateurs, who have had a little experience, to pre- 

 vent putrefaction taking place, examine with attention each 

 bulb before they lay them on the drying shelves, and reject 

 without exception all those that are anywise unsound. This 

 caution they renew prior to their replanting them, to prevent 

 as much as possible all infection. 



It is much preferable to place the bulbs on shelves sepa- 

 rately, and distinguish the different sorts by placing small 

 slips of wood with marks on them, than to put them in small 

 deep drawers, whose depth prevents the air from having a 

 free circulation through them. You must likewise carefully 

 observe to turn the bulbs from time to time, during the first 

 two or three weeks after having laid them on the shelves, to 

 facilitate the evaporation, and not lay them on their base, 

 but on one side ; because otherwise the moisture accumulates 

 and attaches itself more easily between the old roots, which to 

 get rid of is attended with much difficulty, and, if it remains, 

 it occasions them to perish for want of evaporation. 



To convince yourself of the necessity there is to follow the 

 rule herein mentioned, is very easv, alone by examining the 



