58 



HYACTNTH. 



fibres having taken substantial root in the soil before 

 transplanting, such plants may be taken up again in 

 August, or early in September ; and on being planted 

 in large pots, they may be removed, so as to perfect 

 their bloom, within view of the parlour or sitting-room, 

 which will afford considerable amusement and gra- 

 tification. 



Hyacinth. — There are, as has been already stated, 

 about thirteen hundred varieties of this family of 

 plants, comprising all the various hues, as white, 

 pink, red, yellow, blue, purple, crimson, &c, and 

 some of those with various coloured eyes. They begin 

 to produce their flowers in the open borders early in 

 April, on short erect stems covered with florets or 

 small bells ; each floret is well filled with petals rising 

 towards the centre, and is suspended from the stem by 

 short strong footstalks, the longest at the bottom, and 

 the uppermost florets stand so erect as to form a 

 pyramid. A plantation, or a bed of these, have a very 

 beautiful appearance, provided they are well attended 

 to. In planting them, which should be in the months 

 of October or November, care should be taken to have 

 the colours so diversified as to suit the fancy ; they 

 may be placed in short rows across the bed, about eight 

 inches apart, and from three to four inches deep, 

 measuring from the top of the bulb, and covered up at 

 the setting in of winter, as before recommended for 

 bulbs in general. Those who may have a fine collec- 

 tion, should have an awning erected in the Spring, to 

 screen them from the chilling blast, and also from 

 drenching rains and the noonday sun ; and they should 



