CULTURE OF BULBOUS ROOTS IN ROOMS* 75 



more numerous ; some of the finer sorts are exquisitely 

 beautiful ; they are preferable for flowering in winter 

 to most of the double ones, as they bloom two or three 

 weeks earlier, and are very sw r eet-seented. Roman 

 Narcissus, Double Jonquilles, Polyanthus Narcissus, 

 Double Narcissus, and Crocuses, also make a fine 

 appearance in the parlour during winter. It is a re- 

 markable circumstance of the Crocus, that it keeps its 

 petals expanded during tolerably bright candle or 

 lamp light, in the same way as it does during the light 

 of the sun. If the candle be removed, the Crocuses 

 close their petals, as they do in the garden when a 

 cloud obscures the sun ; and when the artificial light 

 is restored, they open again, as they do with the 

 return of the direct solar rays. 



Hyacinths and other bulbs intended for glasses, 

 should be placed in them about the middle of Novem- 

 ber, the glasses being previously filled with pure 

 water, so that the bottom of the bulb may just touch 

 the water ; then place them for the first ten days in a 

 dark room to promote the shooting of the roots ; after 

 which expose them to the light and sun as much 

 as possible. They will blow, however, without any 

 sun ; but the colours of the flowers will be inferior. 

 The water should be changed as often as it becomes 

 impure ; draw the roots entirely out of the glasses, 

 rinse off the fibres in clean water, and also the glasses 

 inside ; care should be taken not to suffer the water to 

 freeze, as it not only bursts the glasses, but often causes 

 the fibres to decay. Whether the water be hard or 

 soft is of no great consequence ; but soft, or rain water, 

 is generally preferred, and it must be perfectly clear. 



