140 
CULTURE OF THE HYACINTH. 
be preserved from heavy rains by means of mats and hoops; the 
mats being thrown over just at the time of the shower, and removed 
as soon as it is over. 
15. When the leaves are somewhat withered, immediately proceed 
to take up the bulbs; carefully avoid cutting off the leaves, until they 
are perfectly dead, for if the tops be cut off too soon, canker and rot¬ 
tenness is the consequence. 
16. When they are taken up, rake the surface smooth on part 
of the bed, and spread about an inch thickness of sand over it; then 
lay the bulbs on the sand at such a distance as not to touch each 
other, and cover them with dry sand, being careful not to cover the 
dying leaves; there let them remain exposed to as much sunshine 
as possible, but secured from all rains or moisture until the roots are 
perfectly ripe, which will be in about a fortnight or three weeks. 
17. When the bulbs are thoroughly ripe, which will be known by 
the leaves having become entirely shrivelled and dead, cut the tops 
off from the crown of the bulb quite close, taking care not to cut in¬ 
to the living part of the crown; rub off the dead fibres, and spread 
the bulbs in a dry airy room for a few days, cleaning off all soil or 
dead loose skins that may adhere to them, separate the offsets, and 
wrap up the bulbs in paper bags until the time of planting again. 
18. Forcing — The bulbs of hyacinths are weakened by forcing, 
but they usually produce the finest offsets, which, when judiciously 
treated, will soon flower very finely. There are two or three ways of 
growing them in houses, either in pots or glasses, or fine sea-sand. 
19. Growing in Pots _In preparing pots for them, select such as 
are about four or six inches deep, according to the kind intended to 
be planted, and three inches wide; put a little rotten dung in each 
pot; fill each pot up with light rich soil, and plant the bulbs so shal¬ 
low that nearly half the bulb stands above the soil. Plunge the pots 
in the open air, and cover them six or eight inches deep with rotten 
bark, or light sandy soil. During spring take them out as they are 
wanted to be brought into flower, and set them either in a green¬ 
house or in the window of a warm room. 
20. When the flower begins to expand, and during the whole time 
of flowering, supply them with manure water; but as soon as the 
flowers fade, and the leaves begin to decay, cease by degrees to water 
them, until at length it is discontinued altogether, for when the 
leaves are dying water becomes injurious. 
21. Growing in Glasses —The best kind of glasses for the pur¬ 
pose, are those of a dark green colour, the roots of the bulbs are not 
so liable to be injured as those in the light coloured ones ; but with 
care either kind will do. 
