CATALOGUE OP BULBS. 
27 
SOIL. 
When the highest cultivation in pots is aimed at, the compost should be light 
and rich, such as may be formed of two-years-old, well decomposed cow-dung, 
and two parts sandy loam, obtained from decayed tuft, such may be procured from 
the side of a highway. If cow dung is not to be had, then use instead rather 
more than one part of sweet decayed tree leaves. If the loam be not light and 
sandy, add nearly one part of silver sand, or other pure sand rather gritty. It is 
advisable that these should be aerated under a shed for some time before using. 
If the compost is much richer, the bulbs are apt to be injured by mould and dis- 
ease. For a bed of first-rate kind out of doors, remove the natural soil, if at all 
adhesive, to the depth of at least one foot ; dig the bottom well, incorporating a 
little leaf-mould, fill up eight inches with such compost as the above, and when 
settled, arranged the bulbs eight inches apart ; place a handful of silver sand around 
each, and then cover four inches. For a mere flower-garden display, trench the 
bed eighteen inches deep, adding rotten leaf-mould, or very rotten hot-bed dung 
and some sand, according to the consistence of the soil and plant as above. 
CULTURE OF THE HYACINTH IK MOSS. 
If the ornament used be without means of 'drainage, cleanse the moss from im- 
purities and place it loosely in the vessel, on which plant the hyacinths and other 
bulbs, covering them with the greenest of the moss, and then moisten the whole 
— which must be repeated at least two or three times a week, according to the tem- 
perature of the room. If a flower-pot be used, place at the bottom a piece of pots- 
herd and treat as above, except that the moss need not be cleansed, and water may 
be given more freely. For the sake of appearance, occasionally change the moss 
which covers the bulbs. 
CULTURE OF HYACINTH IN SAND. 
Take a china bowl, glass dish, vase, or in fact anything of an ornamental char- 
acter, capable of containing moisture, fill it with silver sand in the shape of pyra- 
mids. In the center, plant a hyacinth, and at equal distance round the sides three 
or more, according to the size of the vessel, filling up the spaces between with 
Crocus, Snow-drops, Dwarf Tulips, Jonquils, or a mixture of all. In planting, the 
bulbs should be carefully pushed into the sands, allowing the top alone to be seen. 
The vessel should then be immersed in a bucket of water for about five minutes, 
in order to fit the bulbs in their position. The bath must b?- repeated once a week, 
or oftener if required, for on no account should the sand be allowed to get dry. 
Place it in the dark for a fortnight, and afterwards in any cool, well-lighted airy 
room. 
CULTURE OF HYACINTH IN GLASSES. 
Of all the plants with which we are acquainted, the hyacinth is the most suitable 
for this elegant, though somewhat unnatural system of culture ; and here we would 
just remark that failure may be more generally traced to mistaken kindness than 
to neglect. Its roots, like 'those of other plants, shun the light with instinctive 
care ; therefore, dark-colored glass should be selected. Neter use spring water if 
you can get clear rain water. Place the bulbs in the glasses and fill with rain 
water so that it barely touches the bottom of the bulbs, and set them in a dark, 
cool, dry cellar or closet. When t he bulbs rests in the water at once, there is slight 
clanger of mouldiness ensuing. Examine them occasionally, and remove gently any 
scales that may be decaying, but be very careful not to injure the young roots. 
When the glasses are moderately filled with roots, which will be the case in three 
or four weeks, remove Ihem to where the plants will receive moderate light ; and 
as soon as the plants assume a healthy, green color, to the lightest possible situa- 
tion, and where they can have abundance of fresh air. A close, heated atmosphere 
is very unfavorable to the development of handsome spikes of bloom. When in 
actual growth, keep them as near the glass as convenient, and turn them occasion- 
ally to prevent long, weakly, ill-shaped stems ; the water should be changed at 
least every three weeks, using pure rain water, of about the same temperature a3 
