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THE FLOWER GARDEN. 



869 



HYACINTHS. 



The hyacinths in beds or patches in the borders, will now, 

 if the weather has been mild, begin to make their appearance. 

 Those which are in beds, and may be considered fine, should 

 be protected from occasional frosts, and also from too much 

 rain. As the shoots advance, let them be neatly supported 

 with sticks, as they are apt to be broken if left unsupported, 

 the flower-spikes, if large and double, being heavy. They 

 should also be protected from accidental injury, by being 

 hooped over in a neat and secure manner, and occasionally 

 covered with canvas, or Dutch reed, or garden-mats. 



PROPAGATING VARIOUS KINDS OF GREEN-HOUSE PLANTS FOR 

 PLANTING OUT IN THE FLOWER BORDERS. 



Many kinds of exotics are of rapid growth, and produce 

 their flowers in a state of greater perfection when planted out 

 during summer into the borders of the flower garden, than if 

 confined within the narrow limits of flower pots. Of these 

 may be enumerated the Senlcio elegans, which sometimes 

 comes double from seeds, but is most generally propagated by 

 cuttings ; Salvia splendens, a plant of unusual splendour, 

 introduced in 1823, from the Brazils; Salvia Mexicana, a 

 species of the same family, and affording a beautiful contrast 

 in its blue flowers with the bright scarlet flowers of Salvia 

 splendens ; HeUotropium Peruviamim, a plant of considerable 

 beauty and great fragrance ; many species and varieties of 

 Pelargonium, particularly those with scarlet flowers ; and of 

 that numerous and interesting genus Mesembryanthemum, 



There are many species of the latter which flower profusely 

 during summer, when planted out in light sandy soils fully ex- 

 posed to the sun, or upon rock-work, where they will continue 

 to flower till destroyed by the frosts. Ilememris urticifolia 

 and //. coccinia, are plants well suited for similar purposes. 

 Cuttings of all these should now be put in, and forwarded 

 with all possible speed, so that they may be fit for planting 

 out in the open borders by the middle of May. Where cir- 

 cumstances will admit of it, it is a good practice to strike a 



