THE HYACINTH. 
373 
is that of a nymphsea, although its flowers 
are unlike those of that plant ; but in fact, 
being produced close to the water's surface 
and among the numerous leaves, the blossoms, 
unless closely observed, do not appear strik- 
ingly diflFerent from what would be expected 
in a small water-lily. Of course this resem- 
blance only finds a place in the idea 
of the mere casual observer ; though the ex- 
istence of such an idea in any case, serves 
to show what is the general aspect of the 
plant. 
As to culture, none is required- The 
plant has only to be fixed, by one of the many 
ways which will naturally suggest themselves 
to every one ; and so that this is done, its long 
branching fioating stems go on growing on the 
surface, and sending down roots into the liquid 
element beneath them. Any fragment of the 
stems with roots and leaves will form a plant. 
THE HYACINTH. 
As there is every prospect that the leading 
horticultural societies who have early shows, 
will give prizes for hyacinths the ensuing 
spring, we have resolved on giving a few 
useful hints as to their culture, and some in- 
formation as to the kinds that are best adapted 
for general cultivation. Whatever may have 
been hitherto accomplished in this country as 
to the raising of hyacinths from young offsets, 
and however well a few have succeeded in 
producing tolerably good roots, the generality 
of growers contrive to spoil all they buy in, 
or at least to reduce them to the condition of 
common border flowers. The exceptions are 
but few. Mr. Lockhart, who, if not a Dutch- 
man, was brought up among the raisers of 
bulbs in Holland, has done a good deal with 
the hyacinth in common soil, brought into 
condition by his own method ; and certainly 
we have seen far more noble trusses or spikes 
of flowers this year in his garden than we 
have in any of the nurseries ; but to bring 
the hyacinth to perfection, so that we may 
equal our neighbours the Dutch in the pro- 
duction of fine bulbs, we must consider the 
peculiarities which favour or otherwise the 
health and vigour of the plant. There is 
nothing in the climate of Holland that should 
place it before us in all the requisites for the 
production of bulbs ; therefore we must seek 
for the favourable circumstances in the soil ; 
and that in the bulb gardens, which are no 
doubt selected for that circumstance, is a 
deep sand; the only dressing used by the 
most successful growers is well-decomposed 
cow-dung, and in this small offsets soon be- 
come fine roots ; the natural conclusion is that 
the sand is poor, or so much dressing would 
not be necessary, and therefore we ought to 
supply, as nearly as we can, a soil of sand and 
decomposed cow-dung. All the instruction 
hitherto given on the subject of cultivating 
hyacinths has been favourable to rich and 
light soil ; but to produce the bulbs as fine as 
the Dutch ones, we would make the soil alto- 
gether eighteen inches deep. At first we would 
see that the bed is well drained, so that no 
water can ever stagnate ; but this should be 
done with everything else, as well as hyacinths. 
We would then make a compost of two-thirds 
sand and one-third decomposed cow-dung, 
that is, cow-dung rotted to mould, and fill up 
the whole eighteen inches with it. Let all 
the young offsets be carefully planted three 
inches deep, and three or four inches apart, 
with their names carefully labelled, so that 
there may be no mistake about sorts while 
they are young. As soon as they throw up 
their spike of flowers, pick off all but the top 
two or three pips, or even the top one. When 
the leaves have died down, or nearly so, take 
up the bulbs, which will be found much en- 
larged, and twist off the foliage ; but lay each 
sort together in the ground again, and in a 
fortnight or three weeks you may pull off the 
roots, and lay them in an outhouse, where 
they have a good air but no sun. In a fort- 
night or three weeks more you may clean off 
the loose skins, and lay them by until you 
Avant to plant them, taking care that neither 
sun nor damp reaches them. Make up an- 
other bed in the same way for them the next 
year, and use the former bed for anything 
else ; for by giving another good dressing of 
cow-dung or leaf-mould, you will adapt it for 
many things ; and in the mean time^ the 
hyacinths will get on much more rapidly in a 
new bed. These bulbs will imbibe a fatal 
disease if they grow two years running on 
the same spot or in the same soil. Even in 
Holland, where they have the soil natural, 
instead of artificial, they do not grow again 
under three or four seasons in the soil they 
have been once grown in. If a change of 
crops be necessary for many crops, to keep 
them from degenerating, it is absolutely called 
for with bulbs to prevent total failure. Small 
offsets become good roots in three seasons ; 
and for strength of bloom, the three-year-old 
bulbs are by far the best, although they are 
not the largest. In Holland, as in this coun- 
try, the hyacinth grows to its full size, and 
wlaen it has bloomed its best, it goes into 
offsets, and these are nursed as we have 
directed until they become fine full roots like 
their parents, and are sent over here for sale. 
