GARDEN HYACINTH. 85 



lug of fine sifted and perfectly decayed bark, 

 about one inch thick. This assists to keep off 

 the frost in winter and the bed cool during 

 the flowering season. It also allows of a harm- 

 less practice of showing the flowers to the 

 greatest advantage ; viz. giving the surface a 

 slight watering about an hour before the flowers 

 are to be shown to company. A dark-coloured 

 back-ground is thus given to the flowers, and a 

 freshness to their colours which is truly pleasing 

 and well worth the labour. 



It is not the practice to water bulbs at any 

 period of their growth; and certainly, if the 

 compost contains substances which are retentive 

 of humidity, or if there be a layer of moist dung 

 at the proper distance below, it is perhaps unne- 

 cessary during the short period of their spring 

 growth. Otherwise, I see no reason why the 

 hyacinth should be denied the " vernal showers, 

 so invigorating to all vegetation. 



Soon as the points of the leaves appear above 

 ground, hoops should be fixed, and mats or can- 

 vass coverings laid ready to be used against the 



