Illustrated Catalogue of Dutch Flower Roots. 
Remarks on Cultivation, &c. 
A HYACINTH FARM NEAR HAARLEM. 
CULTIVATION OF HYACINTHS. 
The Hyacinth is as conspicuous amongst early Spring flowers 
as is the Itose amongst our Summer favourites. It is pre- 
eminently “The Flower of Spring,” and richly does it merit 
this high distinction, for few classes of plants, if any, embrace 
at once so wide a range of beautiful and distinctive variety of 
colouring with such delicious fragrance as is common to them 
all. No plant can be grown to so high a state of perfection with 
so little trouble, or will adapt itself so readily to almost any 
system of what may be termed artificial culture ; grown in-doors 
in pots, pans, boxes, and glasses, jardinettes, baskets, iu soil, 
cocoa-nut refuse, or damp moss, or out of doors on the open 
border, it appears equally at home, and will bloom “ free and 
fragrant,” as if grateful for the small amount of attention it 
receives. The Hyacinth forces well, and by judicious treatment 
may be had in bloom by Christinas, but “forced” spikes of bloom 
are not generally so fine as those which develop more slowly in 
the cool house, pit, or frame. Pot culturo is by far the most 
important and successful of the many ways adopted in growing 
Hyacinths, and cultivated in this way no plant will produce 
more splendid effects in the greenhouse or conservatory in the 
Spring months, or is so indispensable as a window plant. Single, 
or double, they are all exceedingly beautiful, but if there is any 
excuse for distinction, the single-flowered varieties must bear 
away the palm for elegance and brilliancy, and perhaps for 
fragrance, although the individual bells are not always so large. 
"in selecting Hyacinth bulbs, it should be borne in mind 
that the largest and finest-formed are not always those which 
produce the finest spikes of bloom ; for, although some are 
possessed of both these qualities, many of the finest varieties 
have rough, and in some instances, small and ill-shapen bulbs ; 
all must, however, be well-ripened, firm, and solid, to produce 
really good flowers. 
Cultivation in Pots. — Although the Hyacinth will 
ordinarily thrive in any good, light, rich soil, a long experience has 
taught us that the best possible mixture for growing Hyacinths 
iu pots consists of about one-third each of good fibrous loam and 
w'ell-decayed cow-dung, and the remainder of about equal parts 
of coarse gritty sand and leaf-mould. Thoroughly mix those at 
least a month before potting, keeping the mixture in a cool shed, 
or where it is not exposed to the weather. Forty-eight sized 
pots (five-inch) are generally preferred, but we have seen magnifi- 
cent Hyacinths grown in much smaller, some indeed preferring 
tliree-and-a-half-inch pots for ordinary decorative purposes; 
where fine selected bulbs, however, are grown for exhibition, 
thirty-two sized (six-inch) are not considered too large. Iu 
potting, the soil should be iu a moderately moist condition, and 
great care should be taken to ensure perfect drainage. Preparo 
the pots by placing a large hollow crock at the bottom, and a 
few smaller round it, and on these a little rough rich manure, 
or a few pieces of charcoal. Use the soil in its rough state as 
mixed, filling the pots quite full ; take each bulb firmly in hand 
and press it well down into the soil, and finish off by firmly 
pressing down the soil round the bulb and filling up level, 
leaving the crown of the bulb just visible. After potting select 
for them a cool, sheltered position out of doors, and place them 
on a layer of coal ashes, cocoa-nut fibre, tan, or any similar light 
material, covering the pots w ith the same to the depth of five or 
six inches, and placing over them a few boards or slates to keep 
off excessivo rains. In about four or five weeks they will be 
found on examination to be nicely rooted, and those required for 
earliest blooming may be removed to the cool pit or frame 
preparatory to forcing, or their removal to the greenhouse ; or 
they may remain in the plunging material and be brought forward 
as required in succession for later blooming; all should, however. 
