26 FIGTOEIAL FBAGTIGAL BULB GEOWING. 



excessively poor, it will be decidedly advantagous to dig in some 

 thoroughly rotted manure, but it must be put in the second spit. 



Staking the Plants. — When the culture has been thoroughly 

 good at all stages, it will be found imperative to give the grand 

 spikes of Hyacinths, the glowing flowers of Tulips, or the big 

 Narcissi some assistance, or they will certainly collapse by their 

 own great weight. As this completely spoils their appearance, it 

 must be prevented by timely staking. It is unfortunate with 



FIG. 7.-A WIRE SUPPORT FOR HYACINTHS 



A "Wire Support for Hyacinths.— Get about 18 inches of wire, or as 



much as is req aired that will work easily, double it up so that both sides are 

 equal, put a stick through the top to form a loop, then twist it down to 

 about 4 inches from the ends, bending these out Avide enough to go over 

 the bulb. The loop at the top is to tie the blooms to. The first sketch 

 shows the support twisted, the other plain. 



Hyacinths that the bulbs are so large as to render it impossible to 

 get the stake quite close to the spike, and an ungainly stick by no 

 means adds to the good effect. To obviate any trouble in this 

 respect, the best way is to have very small sticks sharply pointed, 

 and force the end into the bulb itself, where it will stand firmly, 

 and, lying closely to the spike, will not be unsightly. The objection 

 may be raised that such a method of procedure is sure to damage 

 the bulb. And so it will in a minute degree, but it will certainly 

 not affect the present year's spike. For planting in the border — 

 and this is the ultimate home of most of the pot-grown bulbs — the 

 small hole is little if any detriment, as the bulbs appear to flower 

 just as well as when they have not been thus barbarously treated. 



