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THE CULTURE AND PROPERTIES OF THE HYACINTH. 
nothing among them that the growers in this country considered good enough for a new name, ahundant 
proof was fui'uished that there is nothing in Holland that cannot be imitated nearly enough to grow 
any or all the bulbs fully equal to then- best. 
The gi-eat body of the soil in which Hyacinths are grown in Holland, is light and sandy, and, tm- 
cultivated, it is remarkably poor ; but, for the growth of Hyacinths, an enormous quantity of cow-dung 
is requii-ed, which, when well decomposed and mixed, forms, or rather changes, the natural soil into 
good compost. In all the attempts that have been successful, in this country, the soil has been formed 
so as to secui'e lightness, that is to say, porosity and richness. "We have seen a large collection iu one- 
thii'd light fiiable loam, one-thii'd clean- washed sea-sand, and one-third decomposed cow-dmig, and 
nothing could exceed the noble growth and bloom. This bed was aftenvards used thi-ee seasons, to 
bring forward the offsets that were taken fi-om the old roots, many of which, on taking up, had split into 
several, while others retained much of their original form, size, and general appeai-ance. In the re- 
planting of the offsets, wliich took place the beginning of the next October, a fresh dressing, about two 
inches iu thickness, of decayed cow-dung, was forked into the top six inches of soil, and the offsets were 
planted, as the old bulbs had been, that is, thi'ee inches below the sm-face. AVhen these threw up their 
little spikes of flowers, perhaps not half-a-dozen pips, all but one bud was picked off. Li due time, when 
the leaves had died down, they were aU taken up, put in a dry shady place, for a few days, and then 
cleared of the roots and tops. These had increased in size considerably, and, at the second taking up, 
some were as large as the old flowering bulbs, and the next season, both in water and earth, produced 
full-sLjed ti-usses or spikes of flower. This, and observations on some other experiments by different 
persons, led to the following system of culture. 
Hyacinths imported and grown in Pots. — Choose pots made on purpose, not larger than six inches 
across, and nearly twelve inches deep, if you can get them ; if not, take thirty- two-sized pots, called six- 
inch pots, as the least that can be tolerated ; mix half sand, and half cow-dung rotted into mould, and 
fill the pots within foiu- inches of the sm-face ; place the bidb in the centre, and press it an inch into the 
soil, then fill up to the top, which will cover the top of the bidb thi-ee inches ; set the pots out of doors, 
or anysvhere out of the way, till it is requii'ed to push them on. If you want a succession of bloom, and 
to begin early, put a few in the stove in November, a few in December, a few in January, February, 
and March. Being out of doors, they are well kept back ; and, being covered thi-ee inches, they require 
no burying in the ground, or in tan, or any other medium ; they must be watered occasionally, because 
the soil being very porous, will dry much sooner than ordinary loam and dimg. The stj'le of gx'owth, 
and the size of the flowers and trusses of plants cultivated after this maimer, will very much escell 
those cultivated in the ordinary way. 
Hyacinths in Glasses. — Always use rain or river water ; put them in the glasses about October, if 
possible ; let them be in the dark until they shoot forth their fibres, and especially preserve them from 
frost, because, if the water be once fi-ozen, it is almost sm-e to burst the glass. Change the water every 
six weeks ; and fill uj) to the bottom of the root, or nearly so, any time there is a vacancy, between the 
periods of change. When they begin to grow, keep them in the strongest possible Hght, for it will 
prevent their drying up, and give them air if you can, as it tends to give them both sti-ength and 
colour-. 
Hyacinths in Sand and Moss. — Hyacinths will grow and bloom in moss alone, if it be kept con- 
stantly wetted ; but it is far better to half-fill any vessel you may use, such as a bowl or deep dish, or 
any shallow fancy vase, with silver sand wetted ; place the bulb upon that, and fill the rest with good 
green moss. The quantity of water required, is just sufficient to keep the sand full of it, but with none 
laying at the top. Once, in thi-ee or fonr watermgs, you may give liquid manm-e, made of a quarter of 
a peck of cow-dung rotted to mould, to ten gallons of water, weU stii-red up, and allowed to settle, the 
clear liquid being alone used. The effect of this is to strengthen the growth ; but without any such 
stimulant, the plants wiU come shoi-t, sti-ong, and well coloured, if kept fully exposed to the hght, and 
well supplied with air. 
Hyacinths in Beds in the Open Ground. — Choose a well-drained spot, and dig out the soil two feet 
deep, and fom- feet wide. At the bottom of this, put six inches of well .decomposed cow-dung. Then 
mix a compost, of one-half sea-sand, well pm-ified of its salt, 
and one-half cow-dung rotted into mould. If the sea-sand 
cannot be had, any other coarse but clean sand must be 
substituted. Fill up the bed with the compost, and let it 
settle a few days, then level it, without otherwise distiu-b- w le DB T DB le w «:j 
ing it, planting the bulbs six inches aijar-t all over the bed. LB w LR DB LE w LB ^ 
There will be seven in width, and the most efficient way 
