GARDEN HYACINTH. 83 



The bed for hyacinths should be prepared for 

 their reception during the month of September. 

 The natural soil, whether suitable or not, should 

 be trenched three feet deep, for reasons before 

 given. Of whatever description it may be, 

 eighteen inches of the surface should be removed 

 to make way for a previously prepared compost. 

 If the bed be raised by boarding, the natural 

 bottom on which it stands should be suffi- 

 ciently loosened, in order that the whole mass 

 of compost and earth under the bulbs be of the 

 same texture or consistence. The bed, whether 

 boarded or not^ should be made up to within 

 three inches of the desired height, and smoothed 

 into form to receive the roots. 



St. Crispin's day (25th October) is a good 

 time for planting. If the bulbs are put in much 

 earlier, except in countries farther north than 

 London, they may be hurt by being too much 

 advanced in mid-winter; and if kept out of 

 ground after this time, they begin to vegetate in 

 the drawers, or on the shelves ; which, if they 

 do, it has a tendency to weaken them. 



