68 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



a too sudden exposure to light and air. In four or five days these 

 covers may be removed, and they may be placed in a warm house 

 for forcing, or left in the greenhouse to come on more slowly. Do 

 not apply too much artificial heat at the first. It dees not 

 require uncommon sense to know that a plant ought not to be 

 taken from a very low temperature to a high forcing one too 

 suddenly. In all cases of forcing, a plant must be placed in a 

 temperature that should be gradually increased. 



The earliest Hyacinths need not be forced into flower before 

 Christmas ; and it is easy to continue a succession for three 

 months or more. Recent seasons have been exceptionally late, 

 and good spikes have been seen well into April. Some seasons 

 they would be all over by the end of March. When the flowers 

 decay, take the plants in their pots and place them in a sheltered 

 position out of doors, where they must not be altogether 

 neglected, but should receive enough water to keep the leaves 

 fresh until they decay naturally. The flower spikes must be cut 

 off as soon as the flowers fade, but they ought to be removed even 

 before this, as they are apt to produce an unpleasant smell when 

 they pass a certain stage ; and the sooner they can be removed 

 the better for the bulbs. Some of the bulbs that are carefully 

 ripened will produce very fair spikes the second season. They 

 may be planted out in clumps in the borders, and in some cases 

 much good might be done by giving a portion of them to the 

 cottagers and others who cannot afford to purchase them. 



Culture in Water. — Excellent spikes of Hyacinths can be 

 produced in glasses of water. The glasses are of course made 

 specially for this purpose. A few pieces of charcoal should be 

 put into the glasses. Pure water from a well is better than rain 

 water, and the glasses ought to be filled, so that the base of the 

 bulbs just touches the water. The glasses ought to be placed in 

 some dark place ; a cellar answers very well if it is not damp, as 

 a damp, close place causes some of the bulbs to decay. They 

 may remain in this place for five weeks, but it is necessary to 

 look over them twice to remove any decayed parts from the 

 bulbs, and to fill up with fresh, clean water, if necessary. In 

 five weeks the roots will probably have grown to the bottom 

 of the glasses, and they must be gradually inured to the light. 

 It may not be necessary to change the water, but it is easy to do 

 so if it gives forth an offensive smell. 



