MAY. 



as 



AMONG THE HYACINTHS. 



On tlie 25!h March I paid a visit to Messrs. W. Cutbush and Sou's ground's, at 

 Highgate, to inspect their Hyacinths. These Hyacimh thows have become a spring 

 institution both at Highgate and Waltham Cross; Mr. \V. Paul having also become a caterer 

 to the public in conjunction with Messrs. Cutbush & Son. And the public— and especially 

 those who are " Hyacinth-fanciers," if the term be at all tolerable— should make a point of 

 annually inspecting these exhibitions, for there is not that degree of knowledge of the 

 Hyacinth abroad that is entertained of many other flowers. It requires constant contact with 

 this flower to become acquainted at all familiarly with the leading varieties even; while, 

 among the great bulk of those flowers that have been several years in cultivation, the 

 distinctions are so narrow, that the knowledge of them that constitutes an efficient judge, 

 and which shoidd be in the possession of those who have to decide on the merits of competing 

 stands, can only bo acquired by a continuous observation when they are displayed in 

 quantities and in A-ariety. 



At Highgate the flowers were arranged in the show-house adjoining the dwelling, tho 

 front stage being occupied by Hyacinths and a few Tulips and Amaryllis ; the back was an 

 extremely gay pyramid of spring-flowering plants— a front elevation of lovely and charming 

 colours. Eight hearty gratification was there here for those who wended then way hither, 

 and well was the levee attended. I was amply repaid for braving the steep ascent of the 

 hill that leads up to Avhere this floral fete was held. 



I began with the bright-coloured varieties, that are always the most conspicuous in a 

 group. Theie were Desdemona, rich dark; Queen of Hyacinths; Victoria Alexandria; 

 Macaulay; Yon Schiller ; Howard; Solfatene; Circe, deep crimsou, edged with light pink' 

 a flower that pleased me vastly ; Cosmos, fiery red midrib, edged with rosy pink ; and Lina' 

 a deep crimson, that changes with age to a dark magenta. Of lighter' shades there were 

 Jenny Lmd, a deep rose double variety ; Johanna ChrLtina, pale rose with salmon stripes" 

 La Dame du Lac ; Cavaignac, a very showy flower with large bells ; Lady Palmerston a 

 very pretty flower ; Koh-i-noor; Florence Nightingale, verv beautiful; Noble par Merite 

 a double variety with a close and compact spike ; Duchess of Richmond ; Gigantea a verv 

 delicate pink; Princess Charlotte; Le Prophete; and Queen Victoria. A few Blues were 

 scattered here and there— sole survivors of a "grand array" that a few weeks previously 

 Were radiant with freshness and vigour. Prince Albert, General Havelock, and La Nuit 

 were conspicuous by their sable vestments; but darkest of all seemed to be Lamplighter an 

 intensely dark purple, with light centre. Of lighter shades were Pieneman, a kind of Samson 

 in this class, having immense azure bells, but forming a loose spike; Garrick, a good double • 

 Mimosa, a dark variety that had become paler by age; Grand Lilas; Van Speyk and Arams a 

 beautiful Hyacinth that appears to be extremely difficult to catch good. I have not seen a 

 good example of it this season. Those I saw were wanting in that rich gloss and heightened 

 colour that I saw on it two years ago in Yorkshire. It is too uncertain ever to become an 

 exhibition flower. Two or three mauve-coloured varieties could not fail to catch the eve 

 Prince of Wales and Haydn were the best of these. There were also a double variltv 

 named Marie, a bronzy purple edged with blush; and the old deep lilac variety Unirn.P 

 The Blush kinds were yet in force, and had that waxy appearance that makes them sue h 

 general favourites. Among these were Grand Blanche Imperiale, a beautiful blush and 

 Tubiflora, more delicate in colour, but both having large and showy bells, the tube ofeafh 

 being deeply stained with purple. Then came Grandeur a Merveille, Lady Franklin Elfrida 

 Voltaire, Sei aphme, and Lord Wellington (double) . Of l'ure Whites I noticed Paix de 1'EuronP 

 and Mont Blanc— two varieties that seemed to be identical, though I have no doi.ht 

 but that the bulbs differ widely in size and colour, a difference often observed ir, 

 bulbs, between the flowers of which there exists but a very narrow distinction indeed 

 Others were Fair Maid of Denmark, with large pure white bells well reflexed ■ Alln" 

 Maxima, Snowball, Mirandolme, and Mammoth, the latter having veiy laro- e bells P I t 

 few Yellows were present ; in fact but a few of these are really worth cultivation • but I am 

 hoping that we are on the eve of seeing valuable accessions to the ranks of this much 

 needed colour. Ida, a beautiful delieate cream colour, and San Francisco, a sulphur vellow 

 but having smaller bells than Ida, were the best in this class. Victor Hugo is in the wav of 

 Ida, and with Heroine (single) make up the cream of the yellow varieties. Lastlv tho™ 

 was the most distinct Hyacinth we have— Duo de Malakoff, fine examples of which havp 

 appeared this season; a flower partaking of the characteristics of both the red and vpIW 

 varieties, yet connected with neither. Mr. Cutbush classes it with the yellow kinds 3 

 describes it as a " straw colour, with stripe of rosy lake on each segment " 

 Vr So ™ e Tulips were yet in flower, but they, too, were rapidly " passing away." I notiepd 

 Vermilion Brilliant and Cramoise, both scarlets; Due d'Aremberg, fine red feathered with 

 yellow; Grand Due, glowing bronzy red, but deeply edged with yellow; Matilda bright 



