OF TIIEIR ILLUSTRATED FLORA L GUIDE. 
9 
After the early part of December, Hyacinths intended to bloom in glasses of water would flower better I 
if first grown in pots, where they may remain till nearly in bloom, when the soil should be carefully ! 
i washed from the roots before being placed in the glasses. 
Time of Purchasing the Hyacinth, 
This information is as important to the purchaser as any wc can give. The best Hyacinth roots 
arrive in London from the 20th of August to the 5th of September ; orders should therefore be given for : 
these as soon after that time as possible. If it be inconvenient to plant them immediately, they may be i 
j placed on a cool dry shelf till wanted. 
To SUCCESSFULLY DEVELOPE HYACINTH FLOWERS. 
Light and fresh air are the great essentials— bhe former gives colour to the flower, the latter imparts • 
health and vigour to the plant. The Hyacinth should, therefore, when in growth, be placed in the i 
lightest situation at command, and, if possible, have the benefit of the morning sun. It should never be | 
kept in a close, hot room, mid sudden changes of atmosphere, especially from heat to cold, should be I 
sedulously guarded against. 
How to Cultivate the Hyacinth in the sitting-room in prepared Cocoa-Fibre and Charcoal. 
“Our prepared Cocoa-fibre and Charcoal” is a much better medium for flowering bulbs in than 
either water, sand, or moss, in all the elegant contrivances suggested for the adornment of the sitting- 
room and drawing-room. 
We recommend its use in Hyacinth glasses, fancy flower-pots, vases, jardinets, &c., where the drainage 
is imperfect. The preparation is free from impurities, and possesses a gentle stimulus ; the bulbs root 
freely into it, and produce fine spikes of bloom. Another important recommendation our prepared 
cocoa-fibre and charcoal possesses is its retention of moisture for a long time. Unless in a very hot 
room, two or three good waterings will be sufficient from the time of planting till the bulbs are in bloom, 
so that the amateur is relieved from the daily anxiety lest his favourite group of forthcoming flowers 
should suffer from want of water. 
Place at the bottom of the jardinet, &c., a handful or so of rough charcoal, and fill up with the pre- i 
paration ; plant the Hyacinths thickly, associating with them Snowdrops, Scilla Sibirica, early-flowering I 
Tulips, Narcissus Bulbocodium, free-flowering Crocus, and, if the space will admit, a few Pompon j 
Hyacinths ; cover the bulbs with the preparation, and neatly cover the surface with nice green carpet J 
moss : the freshness of the moss will be prolonged by occasionally damping it with a wet sponge. 
Sprinkle the plants overhead with tepid water two or three times a week. For price of our prepared • 
Cocoa-fbre and Charcoal , see page 8. 
How to Cultivate the Hyacinth in Water. 
The following hints are simple, but ample. Use clean rain-water, and let it just touch the base of the i 
bulbs ; for three or four weeks keep them in a dark, cool situation. Avoid all disturbance of the rootlets ; j 
therefore, never change the water while it remains sweet. As a purifier, place a piece of charcoal in the j 
glass. Never suffer dust to remain on any part of the plant, but remove it daily with a camel-hair 
brush and water. 
How to Cultivate the Hyacinth successfully in Moss. 
At the bottom of the jardinet, <fcc., lay a handful of charcoal, on which place clean moss, and firmly ' 
; press it down ; or. this plant the bulbs, and cover them with nice green carpet moss. Water overhead, 1 
with tepid water, two or three times a-week, through a fine rose, till the plants are in bloom. 
How to Cultivate the Hyacinth in Pots. 
This is by far the most important method of cultivation. At any stage of growth, the Hyacinth can 
be removed from its pot without injury, and arranged either in jardinets, flower-baskets, vases, transferred ; 
to Hyacinth glasses, or planted in the open border. With a little management, the beauty and delightful i 
fragrance of this winter and spring favourite may be enjoyed from the beginning of January to the 
end of April, either in the sitting-room or conservatory. 
A free, porous soil is indispensable, and one composed of equal parts of turfy loam, thoroughly rotted 
cow-dung, and leaf soil, or, instead of the latter, our prepaired cocoa-fibre and charcoal, adding about one- 
eightli part of sharp sand, all of which should be well mixed before being used. This compost, however, 
camiot always be commanded ; use instead any good, light soil, mixed with silver sand, and our prepared 
Cocoa- Fibre and Charcoal. For one bulb, use a four or four and a-balf inch pot; for three bulbs, a five 
■ & n( I a-half inch pot will be sufficient. At the bottom of the pot place some pieces of potsherd or charcoal , 
J and on this some rough pieces of turfy loam, to insure good drainage ; then fill the pot with the prepared 
j soil to within an inch of the top, placing the bulb in the centre, or, if three, at equal distances apart, 
; pressing them lightly into the soil, and filling up, leaving only the crowns uncovered ; moderately water, 
I and place them anywhere out of doors, on coal ashes, or anything that will secure good drainage ; then 
| fill the spaces between the pots with coal ashes, leaf soil, old tan, or common cocoa-fbre , and with the 
same material cover the pots over two or three inches. In five or six weeks the pots will be full of roots, 
and may then be removed as required. If forced, let this be proceeded with gently and skilfully, or the 
| result will be very inferior flowers. 
The successful Cultivation of the Hyacinth out of Doors. 
Well does the Hyacinth deserve the most prominent position both in flower beds and in borders — the 1 
delightful fragrance, imposing massiveness, exquisite symmetry of its flowers, and perfect certainty of j 
I blooming, make it at once the most desirable of spring bedding plants. 
If the soil be light or medium, it simply requires to be deeply dug and well worked ; if heavy, besides 
1 deep digging and well working, the bulbs should be surrounded with sand ; if wet, or subject to occasional 
floodings, drain the ground u'ith a series of drains, three feet deep and ten feet apart, or raise the bed 
| six inches above the general level. When manure is added, use thoroughly rotted cow-dung or leaf 
soil ; and for winter protection cocoa-fibre looks best. 
In planting, the crown of the bulb should be four inches at least under the surface, and to produce 
| a very effective display, the bulbs should be planted six inches apart. 
