16 



HENDERSON'S BULB CULTURE. 



than a day — hence its name. Although perfectly 

 hardy, the bear forcing well in a temperature of 

 50 degrees, Dormant roots maybe procured from 

 November to May. 



HIPPEASTRUM. (See Amaryllis). 



HOMERIA. 



A small genus of pretty half-hardy bulbs from 

 the Cape of Good Hope. They succeed well in the 

 open border, but require the protection of a frame 

 or greenhouse during winter. They require a 

 compost of sandy loam and leaf -mould, and plenty 

 of water when in a growing state. 



HOTEIA JAPONICA. (A synonym for 

 Spiraea Japonica). 



HYACINTH. 



This is doubtless one of the most useful and 

 popular of hardy bulbs, and is a universal favorite 

 in the most extended application of the word. 

 They are not only largely grown for forcing into 

 flower during the dull, cheerless months of winter 

 and early spring, but they are equally desirable 

 for planting in beds or in the garden border. For 

 forcing, the bulbs should be planted about the 

 middle of September or beginning of October, in a 

 soil composed of turfy loam, well decayed cow 

 manure, and leaf -mould in about equal propor- 

 tions, with a liberal addition of sand to keep the 

 soil porous. Five inch pots are a good size to use, 

 although smaller will do, and in potting leave the 

 top of the bulb level with the surface of the soil, 

 which should be moderately moist, and should not 

 be pressed too firmly. Then water freely to settle 

 the soil, and place them out of doors or in a cool 

 cellar on a bed of ashes or coarse sand, and cover 

 with the same material or newly-fallen leaves, to 

 a depth of five to six inches. When well rooted, 

 which will be in from five to six weeks, they may 

 be removed to a cold pit or frame, and thence to 

 the house or greenhouse, as required, but care 

 should always be taken that the bulbs are well 

 rooted before bringing them to the light, as their 

 successful cultivation depends much on this point 

 being well attended to. To keep the foliage dwarf, 

 and perfect the coloring of the flow T ers, Hyacinths 

 when growing should have a liberal supply of clear 

 manure water (which, however, should be dis- 

 continued after the plants are in full bloom), 

 plenty of air, and be kept as near the light as 

 possible. It will also much improve their appear- 

 ance and extend their blooming season if they can 

 be sprinkled overhead occasionally with clear tepid 

 water. 



Hyacinths grown in glasses are elegant and 

 suitable ornaments for the parlor or sitting-room, 

 and can be flowered in this way with very little 

 trouble. The single varieties are more generally 

 used for this purpose, as tney produce finer spike's 

 of flowers than the double. Fill the glass so as 

 almost to touch the base of the bulb with clear 

 water, putting a small piece or two of charcoal in 

 each glass, as this is of service in keeping the 

 water pure. They should then be placed in a cool, 

 dark cellar or similar situation until the roots have 

 nearly reached the bottom of the glass, which re- 

 quires usually from six to eight weeks' time, when 

 they may be brought gradually to the light, after- 

 terwards giving them plenty of light and air, but 

 avoiding draughts or bright sunshine. The water 



should be changed about once a week, and when 

 of sufficient height the flowers should be supported 

 by a wire to prevent overbalancing. The Hya- 

 cinth, in fact, is one of the most accommodating 

 of bulbs. It will grow and flower floating in an 

 aquarium on a piece of cork or board with a hole 

 cut in it just enough to steady the bulb ; in a 

 potato, a beet-root, a turnip, a parsnip, or a good 

 sized carrot, and one of the prettiest indoor orna- 

 ments may be made with some of these reversed, 

 the top excited into growth, part of the root left, 

 and cut into a receptacle for one or more bulbs in 

 full flower, thus combining in an original and truly 

 refreshing manner — the great secrets of all effec- 

 tive decoration and three chief sides of beauty — 

 verdure, form, and color. What, for instance. 

 more beautiful than the young leaves of the dark- 

 est topped beet or feathery-leaved carrot sur- 

 mounted by a crown of the purest white Hya- 

 cinths, both forced to reveal their full compliment 

 of beauty in the dreary days of winter. 



Another very pretty idea in growing or forcing 

 Hyacinths in rooms is to procure a large, coarse 

 sponge, make several incisions in it, arid place 

 bulbs in them. The whole is then placed in a 

 vase of water and a small quantity of rape seed 

 scattered over the surface, which soon covers it 

 with a moss-like mantle, adding greatly to its 

 beauty and attractiveness. A modification of this 

 " idea " could be easily carried out with sphag- 

 num and any common vessel or small tank in 

 which, by its aid, miniature bedding arrangements 

 might safely be ventured upon. 



Hyacinths in beds or borders, out of doors, may 

 be planted from October till frost sets in. They 

 succeed in any well drained, good garden soil, 

 which, however, should be dug at least eighteen 

 inches deep. The bulbs should be planted five or 

 six inches apart, and not less than four inches 

 deep, measuring from the top of the bulb ; a little 

 sand, placed below and around the bulbs permits 

 the water to drain off in heavy soils. The bed 

 should be in a sunny position, if possible, and pro- 

 tected during winter by a coating of rotted ma- 

 nure, which not only acts as a protection in win- 

 ter, but a mulch in spring as well. As the bulbs 

 may be taken up and dried off as soon as the 

 leaves acquire a yellow color, the beds will be 

 vacant in time for the ordinary bedding plants, so 

 that the brilliant display of spring may be fol- 

 lowed by another equally as brilliant perhaps, but 

 in character altogether different. 



If it is found necessary to remove the bulbs im- 

 mediately after flowering, they should be carefully 

 taken up, the leaves damaged as little as possible, 

 and "heeled in" in some slightly shaded place 

 until the foliage is quite withered and the bulbs 

 thoroughly ripened, when they may be taken up, 

 cleaned, and stored in a cold dry shed or cellar, 

 until wanted. If the largest and heaviest of these 

 bulbs are selected and potted up early in Septem- 

 ber, they will, with the usual treatment, be found 

 to come into flower at least three weeks earlier 

 than any of the imported Dutch bulbs, and though 

 the spikes of flower will not be so large, they will 

 be found to be very useful for cutting, &c, for the 

 holidays. Hyacinths should be taken up, dried off, 

 and replanted every year, as, if left in the ground 

 the second season, they always deteriorate and 

 are sure to come up irregular and unsatisfactory, 

 while, if not transplanted until October or Novem- 

 ber, they will be found to have made so many 

 young roots that the bare transplanting, however 



