56 



AN ALPHABETICAL LIST OF 



bloom that formed the couch of Jupiter and Juno. The Greek 

 virgins all wore crowns of this dainty flower w^hen assisting at the 

 weddings of their friends. The Hyacinth ranks with us as queen 

 of the flowers of spring, and, both in our conservatories and homes, 

 it forms a leading attraction in the dark days of winter when 

 pushing forth its elegance in pots and glasses. 



' Svreefc Hyacinths, tlieir bells did ring, 

 To swell the music of the spring.' — Walter Crane. 



The Dutch have been extensive cultivators for many generations, 

 and it is a thousand pities that our soil and climate will not admit 

 of its general growth for commercial purposes. 



At Haarlem in Holland the large areas when in bloom are a grand 

 sight, and the air is perfumed for miles around w^ith a pleasing 

 fragrance. During the whole of the present century Hyacinths 

 have been the chief article in the extensive Haarlem bulb-trade. 

 The primitive Oriental Hyacinth, introduced in Holland about the 

 middle of the sixteenth century, has been improved since its first 

 appearance in the Low Countries, and, according to the taste of our 

 grandfathers, had attained to the highest perfection about the 

 middle of the eighteenth century. The late flowering varieties, 

 with very large flowers, were so greatly preferred by the amateurs 

 of those days, that a ' Hyacinth mania ' w^as occasioned quite ana- 

 logous to the well-known Tulipomania. In our days single Hya- 

 cinths are universally preferred to the double and full ones, and 

 deservedly so, in our opinion. 



Hymenanthera Banksii. — An xlustralian berry-bearing shrub, with 

 yellow fragrant flowers. 



Hymenocallis. See Ismene and Pancratium. 



Hyopithys. — A parasite on Fir and Beech trees ; the entire growth is 

 pale in colour, and often with an odour of Musk. 



Hypocalymna suave. — An Australian evergreen shrub, with purple 

 scented flowers. H. robustiim, from the Swan River, emits a 

 delightful odour, resembling Orange blossoms, when crushed. 



Hypoestes moschata. — A perennial herbaceous plant from Northern 

 Australia ; the v/hole plant seems pervaded with a singularly pene- 

 trating Musk scent w^hich is powerfully retained even in dried 

 specimens. 



Iberidella rotundifolia. — A dwarf Alpine evergreen, bearing racemes 

 of rosy lilac sweet-scented flowers. 



Iberis odorata (Siveet- scented Candytuft). — A hardy annual, intro- 

 duced from the Alps, common in gardens ; its white and purple 



