1S77.] 
HYACINTH QUEEN OF LILACS. 
241 
HYACINTH QUEEN OF LILACS. 
WITH AN ILLUSTRATION. 
[MONGST the new Hyacinths exhibited last spring, one of the most distinct 
and novel was the Queen of Lilacs, of which we now offer an illustration, 
from a very characteristic drawing executed by Mr. C. T. Rosenberg. It 
is a single-flowered variety, with bells of moderate size, closely placed in 
the spike, which is full and well developed, the individual pipes having broad 
regularly-recurved blunt-tipped segments. The colour is a pleasing tint of lilac, 
very distinct from that of any other variety known to us. It was awarded a 
First-class Certificate at the Royal Botanic Society’s spring show, and our portrait 
of it was drawn from the plant thus honoured, by the kind permission of the 
Messrs. Veitch, of Chelsea, to whom it belonged. 
As an excellent summary of Hyacinth - culture, we quote the following 
instructions from Messrs. W. Paul and Son’s Bulb Catalogue :— 
“ Hyacinths in beds or borders should be planted in October or November. They do well 
in any light garden soil. Turfy loam, with a plentiful admixture of sand and well- 
decayed manure, is, perhaps, the best of soils for them; and if the natural soil be so 
stiff and adhesive as to require modifying, these are the materials which should be used. 
The bulbs should be planted with their crowns four inches below the surface, covering 
the ground after planting with two inches of loose pulverised manure, as a protection 
against frost. Hyacinths planted out-of-doors seldom require any water; and if the soil 
or situation be at all damp, they will do better if the soil in the beds or borders be raised 
an inch or two above the surrounding level. 
“ Hyacinths in pots may be potted from September to Christmas, in order to secure a 
succession of bloom. October is, perhaps, the best time for potting the mass. If 
new pots be used, they should be soaked in water before placing the soil in the 
pots. Fill the pots wdth the same compost as recommended for Hyacinths in beds. 
6-inch and 6-inch pots are the sizes ordinarily used. In potting, one-third of the bulb 
should be left above the surface of the soil, and the pots should be placed on the level 
ground out-of-doors, having previously taken precautions to prevent the ingress of 
worms through the holes at the bottom of the pots. Cover the crown of each bulb 
\vith a small pot, and the whole with six inches of cinder-ashes, coarse sand, or any 
porous material, leaving them so covered for at least a month, then removing them at 
intei'vals as required to a cool frame or forcing-house. As the leaves expand, place the 
pots close to the glass; give plenty of air and water; protect from frost. 
“ Hyacinths in glasses may be put in in October or November. The bulb should be 
placed, in the first instance, with the lower end not quite in contact with the water. 
Pure rain or pond water should be used, and not changed unless it becomes offensive. 
When the bulbs are placed in the glasses, they should be set in a dark place for about a 
mouth, then gradually inured to the light, filling up the glasses as the water diminishes. 
The bulbs will fiower in the greatest perfection if placed in a cool airy situation, well 
exposed to sunlight; but it is usually desirable to place some at least in a warm situa¬ 
tion, to accelerate the period of flowering.” 
The cultivated varieties of the Hyacinth are very numerous—so numerous, 
indeed, that a selection only can be grown in any ordinary garden ; and indeed, in 
most cases, a very limited selection indeed, including the principal colours, is all 
that any one establishment requires. The different varieties, however, showing 
variations of form and colour, suit different tastes, and hence a supply is kept up 
by the Dutch bulb-growers, which is, no doubt, stimulated by the demand. For 
general purposes, the singles are much to be preferred, as they produce full, close 
flower-spikes ; while 'the doubles, however beautiful the individual pips, are apt to 
form thin loose inelegant spikes. We mention below the names of a few sorts 
3rd series.—X. 
X 
