THE FLOKAL 'WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 
237 
for a year or two by being divested of tbeir outer shell, and thoroughly 
dried. In jars, or tin cases, put in a layer of charcoal or dry sand, 
then a layer of nuts. Proceed in this way until they are full, 
properly securing each lid, to prevent the admission of air ; when 
finished, bury them in the open ground, or in some cool and dry 
cellar. 
POT CULTURE OF THE HYACINTH. 
NE of the most important points in the culture of the 
Hyacinth is to select hard, sound, well-ripened bulbs, 
for fine spikes of bloom cannot be had from those that 
are soft and spongy, even if they are of large size. Good 
turfy loam and well-decayed manure, at the rate of three 
parts loam to two of manure, chopped up rougldy, and mixed with 
a sixth part of silver sand, form a capital compost for hyacinths. 
Use five-inch pots, and let them be well drained, by placing a layer 
of crocks in the bottom. Put one bulb in each pot ; press the soil 
slightly firm in the pots, and when they are filled to within an inch 
of the rim, insert the bulbs and fill the soil firmly about them. The 
neck of the bulb should show just above the soil. When they are 
simply placed on the surface, with a little loose soil about them, the 
weight of the spike will probably topple them over. The soil should 
be used in a moderately moist condition, and then no water will bo 
necessary until they come from the plunge-beds. When all are 
potted, make up a good bed of coal-ashes, and stand the pots upon 
it. This done, turn a small sixty-pot over each bulb, and cover with 
coal-ashes, spent hops, or cocoa-nut fibre refuse, to the depth of six 
or eight inches. Here they should remain for five or six weeks, and 
then be brought into the forcing-house as vaulted. The young 
growth must be inured to the light in a gradual manner, and the 
plants kept near the glass. After they are well started into growth, 
water liberally, and let them have a breath of fresh air during the 
warmest part of the day ; but it must be admitted without chilling 
the tender growth. 
The bulbs must not be left in the plunge-bed long enough for 
the foliage to grow long and become blanched. Therefore, when the 
flowers are not wanted until late in the spring, lift them out of the 
plunging material and place them in a cold frame or pit, where light 
and air will have free access to them. Those for early flowering 
must not be exposed to a great heat, or the flower-spikes and foliage 
will be drawn up weak and spindly ; and at all times keep as close 
to the glass as possible, because neat, properly- developed foliage, 
that will maintain an erect position without support, is nearly of as 
much importance as good spikes of flowers. 
It is a waste of time to pot hyacinth bulbs a second season, and, 
therefore, to secure an annual display there must be an annual pur- 
chase. Rut the bulbs may be turned to good account in another 
way. When the flowering is over, put them in a cold pit or frame, 
and take reasonable care of them until they are beginning to die 
down. Then plant them all out, without breaking the roots in the 
September. 
