bullous riOWEES. 



porting sticks. On the other hand, a mound-bed requires 

 frequent and regular watering ; is more exposed to gusts 

 of wind, and therefore stands in greater need of the 

 protection of an awning during the period of flowering ; 

 and is also more liable to injury from frosts of unusual 

 severity. Still, this method of cultivation introduces a 

 pleasing change to the every-day routine of flower-beds 

 on the ground level. 



The arrangement of the colours of the respective bulbs 

 admits of the exercise of individual tastes. A common 

 plan is to contrast the tints of every two adjacent blooms ; 

 never to let blue stand close to blue, nor red be next- 

 door neighbour to red. Others make each of their four 

 or five rows to consist of various shades of the same 

 colour. Mere chance-medley planting, taking the bulbs 

 at hazard as they come to hand in the basket, will often, 

 as in the kaleidescope, lead to brilliant combinations. A 

 rich effect is obtained by following the order of the pris- 

 matic spectrum ; i.e. let all the flowers at one end be 

 dark purples and violets, and at the other dark reds. 

 Let the purples be followed by blues and light porcelains, 

 till you come to whites. Next the whites, should follow 

 the yellows ; after them pinks, then full reds, and then 

 dark crimson. "Were there such things as green-flowered 

 hyacinths, they would come between the yellow and the 

 blue, displacing the white, which might be divided to 

 form a bright termination at each end of the bed. 



When the flowering is over, withhold water, and re- 

 move the awning, if one has been used. The leaves have 

 now to fulfil their office, and must be aided by plenty of 

 air and light. The single hyacinths will probably form 

 seed-vessels. If these are not required for the interesting 

 though patient task of raising varieties from seed, or it 

 it be feared that they will exhaust the bulb too much, do 

 not cut off the flower-stem, — an operation which might 

 cause the bulbs to rot, — but pick off" the berries one by 

 one. leaving the stem standing. When the leaves are 

 brown and dry, the bulbs may be taken up ; the soil, 

 dead fibres, &c, removed ; and then the bulbs should be 



