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J. M. THORBURN & CO.— CATALOGUE OF BULBS 



HYACINTHS 



"Ready for delivery in September 



The Hyacinth is one of the most popular and beautiful of spring-flowering plants for indoor and outdoor 

 decorations. By careful management in keeping up a succession, th y ma^/ be had in flower from the begin- 

 ning of winter to 

 theendofMay. For 

 a spring display in 

 the open ground 

 they are unex- 

 celled. Brilliant ef- 

 fects can be ob- 

 tained by m.Tssing 

 dif?erent colors in 

 varieties that grow 

 about the same 

 height and bloom 

 at the same time. 

 We furnish very 

 large numbers for 

 this purpose to pub- 

 lic parks and ceme- 

 teries, and we shall 

 be pleased to rec- 

 ommend to anyone 

 suitable sorts when 

 desired. 



OUTSIDE CULTURE. 

 —October is the 

 month to plant 

 Hyacinths outside. 

 They succeed best 

 in a lightsoil and in 

 a sunny situation. 

 If the soil is natur- 

 ally heavy, some 

 sand should be 

 mixed with it ; and 

 if the beds have 

 been occujDied 

 with other plants 

 throughout the 

 summer, some well- 

 rotted cow manure 

 should be added. 

 The soil should be 

 well dug to a depth 

 of 14 inches, and 



raised from 2 to 4 inches above the level of the walk. The bulbs should be planted evenly, about 6 inches 

 deep to the bottom of the bulbs, and from 6 to 7 inches apart ; if planted at uneven depths they will not bloom 

 at the same time, but irregularly. Care must be taken not to press the earth too firmly around and over the 

 bulbs ; some successful gardeners follow the plan of setting each bulb in a handful of clean sand, which insures 

 proper drainage. After the ground has become frozen in earh- winter, cover with a few inches of dry litter, 

 evergreen boughs or coarse maimre. If this covering be applied before freezing weather, it renders the bulbs 

 liable to the predations of field mice, which may burrow in it. 



CULTURE IN POTS. — For growing in pots, large, selected, named varieties should be used. They should be 

 potted singly in 5-inch or 6 inch pots. Three bulbs in a 7-inch pot are very effective. The best potting com- 

 post is fibry loam and manure in about equal parts, with some river sand intermixed. The pots should be 

 filled lightly, and the bulb pressed into the soil so that its base is firmly fixed. About one-third of the bulb 

 should remain above the soil. The pots should then be buried in the open ground to the depth of six inches, 

 and left there for five or six weeks, until the pots are well filled with roots. They may then be taken into the 

 house, where the w^armth will soon bring them into flower. Where a succession is desired, it is best to pot at 

 intervals from September till the end of November. Plenty of water should be always applied, and manure- 

 water is beneficial after the flower-spikes appear. 



CULTURE IN GLASSES.— Single varieties are better adapted for culture in glasses than double ones. The 

 bulb should be placed so that the base is just in contact with the w^ater. Soft rain-water should be used, and a 

 little charcoal might be placed in it to keep it pure. The glasses should be kept in a cool, dark closet for ten or 

 twelve days, until roots are formed, and then exposed to the light and air as much as possible. Do not place 

 them near gaslight. In very cold weather the glasses should be removed from the window, as the bulbs can 

 not stand frost. The water should never be allowed to freeze, and it should be changed every two or three 

 days. 



Persons unacquainted with the different varieties will do well to leave the selections to us, only specifying 

 in their orders whether the bulbs are wanted for pot, glass or garden culture. 



Uie magnificent display ^ Hyacinths, Tulips and other bulbs sholvn this 

 spring in Central Park, City Hall Park, 3attery Park, and the barious 

 other squares in T\lelp York City, Ivere all produced from bulbs supplied by us 



