England, the beauty and superior size of their flow- 
ers are but in a small degree attributable to our care. 
It is the perfect preservation, or rather reproduc- 
tion, of these bulbs, year after year, which exhibits 
the attention and skill of the florist. 
To effect this efficiently, for it is not true that the 
Hyacinth cannot be successfully continued and in- 
creased in England, it should be planted late in Oc- 
tober, in beds properly prepared to meet its wants. 
These may be shaped agreeably to the fancy of the 
florist. One spade’s depth should be thrown out of 
the bed; in the bottom a good portion of manure 
should be dug in, and blended with the soil. From 
four to six inches depth of rich compost should then 
be put in. This may be made of two parts fresh 
loam, two parts sand; one part well decayed cow or 
stable manure, and one part leaf mould. These w ill 
form an excellent compost, but the precise quantities 
of the materials have no peculiar charm. On this a 
thin layer, about half an inch thick, of sand and leaf 
mould mixed, should be spread : the bulbs should 
then be placed thereon at from nine to twelve inches 
apart, and be carefully covered over, about an inch 
above their tops, with a light sandy earth. Then 
spread over the whole a layer, two or three inches 
thick, of rotten tan, or part of an old hotbed w hich 
has been spread to dry and well broken. This will 
prevent rapid evaporation or hardening of the sur- 
face soil. The bedshould be protected againstsevere 
frost, particularly when the leaves appear; at other 
times give it free exposure till the flowers are in dan- 
ger of injury; when an awning should be provided to 
preserve them from injury by unpropitious weather. 
Hort. Kew.2, v. 2, 282. 
