224 

KIDD'S OWN JOURNAL. 

when reflecting where these follies will end. 
It requires no ordinary share of impudence 
to be in the fashion now-a-days ; and he must 
be indeed a bold man who would “take to 
wife’’ any of the dolls that flutter about our 
fashionable thoroughfares. 
What “ ornaments’’ for a domestic dwel- 
ling! What delightful ‘“‘companions”’ for a 
man of domestic habits and refined sentiment! 
HYACINTHS AND EARLY TULIPS. 
THEIR GROWTH AND CULTURE. 

As tHe Hyacinte and the early Tulip are 
very attractive, it is worth saying a little upon 
their culture, for they require so little trouble that 
there is no excuse for omitting to grow them. 
The most humble cottager may produce a few 
bulbs in bloom, to compete with those from the 
largest establishments. The soil for nearly every 
hardy bulb should be one half thoroughly decom- 
posed cow-dung, and half light soil of almost any 
kind ; or, if the dung irom an old melon or cucum- 
ber-bed be used instead of cow-dung, put only one- 
third part to two parts of light soil. 
Tf the soil which is at hand be stiff and not light, 
mix clean sand with it till it is made light ; and 
then use two parts of the mixture to one of the 
dung; or if it be cow-dung, to an equal quantity. 
This compost should be thoroughly mixed, and 
sifted through a coarse sieve that would let a 
small marble pass the wires. Take the pots that 
are five inches across the mouth for the early 
Tulips, and those six inches across, or even more, 
for the Hyacinths. Having first put a bit of crock 
over the hole, fill these pots two-thirds of the way 
up with compost; press Hyacinths or Tulips very 
gently into this surface, enough only to make 
them stand even while you fill them up with the 
soil; and let it be noticed that, if pressed at all 
hard into the mould, the fibres will not readily 
enter ; but press,the bulb upwards, and Hyacinths 
frequently throw themselves nearly out of the pot. 
But if the soil be soft, and the fibres can enter it 
freely, the surface of the mould will not be dis- 
turbed, although the bulb is but just covered an 
inch. 
When bulbs are potted, it is usual to cover 
them with something. Six inches thickness of 
old tax or sawdust is commonly used, the pots 
being first plunged to the rim. We, however, do 
not attach so much importance to this part of the 
operation as some do; principally because, having 
generally bloomed large collections, without taking 
that trouble, and found them much better than 
most other people’s, we have of late years omitted 
that troublesome job. We have put ours in the 
dark—that is, under the front table of the potting- 
shed, or under the stage of a greenhouse ; not even 
being particular as to the darkness, and yet not 
suffering any inconvenience, so far as we could 
judge. ‘The principal object is to keep the plant 
from being excited to growth above, until the 
roots have formed. We have not convinced our- 
selves of the benefit of darkness in protracting the 
upper growth ; nor does burying them prevent it, 
because we have seen the shoots two or three 
inches long when taken up from their tan or saw- 


dust bed. All we care about is putting them out 
of our way in a cool place for atime; and whether 
dark or light, does not trouble us. 
According to the time you wish them to be in 
bloom, so you remove them to a> warmer berth. 
One season we plunged our pots into the ground in 
an open bed, and had as fine a bloom as ever, with 
only the precaution of keeping the sun off, that 
they might not be urged into flower till we required 
them. When they once begin to grow, they 
require a liberal supply of water; and as we 
approach the showing time, we may hasten 
them, if necessary, by removal to the greenhouse 
or stove; and as the early Tulips ought to be 
in perfection at the same time, we must regulate 
by putting the most backward into a little 
warmth. 
The first object is strength and dwarfiness, 
which can be best secured by light and air ; con- 
sequently those grown in the open air will be 
finest and least drawn. If grown under glass, 
the nearer they are kept to the glass the better, and 
a frame or pitis far better than a greenhouse. Nar- 
cissus requires the same careand treatment, the 
same soil; and although there may be some differ- 
ence in the season of bloom of these things when 
all are allowed their own way, we can, by shelter- 
ing the forwardest or even warming the most back- 
ward, easily bring them all in together. Those 
who intend, therefore, to compete with bulbs, 
should buy early and of a respectable house— 
avoid auctions above all modes of buying. We 
know the :espectable London orders are made up, 
the refuse bulbs are bought up by jobbers, who 
make up for the London auctions ; and the finest- 
looking roots, that any novice would admire, may 
be, and often are, unsound. We are, therefore, 
never safe without buying of respectable dealers. 
With regard to the proper sorts, the dealer will 
be the best judge, and more or less we trust to his 
honor. Let him know the colors you want, and 
the season you wish them to bloom—for some 
Hyacinths and Tulips are nearly a month earlier 
than others—pay him the price, and you may 
calculate on a successful issue. Go to a sale, and 
it is a chance if you have a bloom at all; but it is 
a certainty that you have not a good one. When 
the flowers begin to show their colors, shelter 
them from the mid-day sun; but do not exclude 
light ; the most flimsy shade will do to prevent 
burning. The bulbs, well-purchased, start all 
alike ; and if you attend to these few hints, success 
must follow.— Gardeners’ Journal. 
WHO ARE THE MOST UNHAPPY? 

Cosroxrs, King of Persia, in conversation with 
two philosophers and his Vizir, asked—‘‘ What 
situation of man is most to be deplored?” One of 
the philosophers maintained that it was old age, 
accompanied with extreme poverty; the other, 
that it was to have the body oppressed by infirmi- 
ties, the mind worn out, and the heart broken by a 
heavy series of misfortunes. “I know a condition 
more to be pitied,” said the Vizir, “and it is that 
of him who has passed through life without doing 
good ; and who, unexpectedly surprised by death, 
is sent to appear before the tribunal of the Sove- 
reign Judge.” 


