HYACINTH. 



149 



the bulb, instead of being raised on a long generous 

 spike, being the result of insufficient root action. 



Blooming Hyacinths in Glasses. — For flower- 

 ing in glasses, the largest and heaviest bulbs alone should 

 be chosen, as, in a great measure, they derive their nour- 

 ishment from their own substance, which is quite suffi- 

 cient to develop their flowers, if all other conditions are 

 favorable. For this purpose, as in growing the bulbs 

 in pots, a healthy root growth is of the first importance. 

 To secure this it is an excellent plan, about November 1st, 

 to place the bulbs in a box of wet sand, say two inches 

 in depth. The bulbs should not be pressed into the 

 sand more than half an inch. Put the box where it is 

 cool and dark, and the roots will start in a few days ; 

 when they are half an inch in length, the bulbs may be 

 put in the glasses where they are to grow. Place the 

 glasses, after they are filled with water enough to just 

 touch the bulb, in a dark closet until the roots touch 

 the bottoms of the glasses, then bring to the light, but 

 never where the glasses will receive the full rays of the 

 sun, the effect of which is to heat the water to a fatal 

 degree. A rather low temperature and free access of 

 pure air are among the essential conditions of growth. 

 The temperature should be free from fluctuations. The 

 mantlepiece is an unfit place, while the window-sash, 

 where the glasses get the full force of the sun by day, 

 and the cold drafts of air at night, is the worst place 

 possible, and the one where they are the most frequently 

 met. The nearer they can be kept in a temperature of 

 say 50° F., the better will be the results. For flowering 

 in glasses the single varieties are always to be preferred, 

 as they come into flower more quickly and seem to thrive 

 better under unnatural conditions. 



Varieties. — The varieties of the Hyacinth are 

 extremely numerous, but it is a pleasure to say that the 

 Dutch descriptions are remarkably accurate, and that 



