84 CULTIVATION. 



Single-flowered hyacinths may be planted 

 earlier, and will blow earlier than the double 

 ones ; on which account they are usually planted 

 by themselves. 



The beds are commonly made four feet wide, 

 which allows six rows to be planted lengthways, 

 at the distance of eight inches asunder, leaving 

 four inches between the outside rows and the 

 sides of the bed : the distance between bulb and 

 bulb in the rows is also eight inches. 



The bulbs should be placed on and covered 

 with white sand, as directed for tulips ; this 

 being considered as a preservation from damp 

 and insects. They are then covered with com- 

 post three inches thick, if the surface is to re- 

 ceive no other covering ; but if intended to be 

 covered with tv/o or three inches of well-rotten 

 dung about the beginning of December, a 

 covering of one inch thick of compost will be 

 sufficient. Another mode of covering I have 

 practised, which is to cover the bulbs, in the 

 first place, with about two inches of compost ; 

 and, before the frost sets in, adding a top cover- 



