CULTURE OF THE HYACINTH. 
141 
22. Place the glasses in a light airy situation, and the water will 
require to be changed once in three or four days. 
23. If drawn up weakly, it will he necessary to support the stems 
with sticks, split at the bottom, so as to fit on the edge of the glasses 
at the top. This, however, will not be necessary if they be kept in 
a light and airy situation. 
24. When out of flower, plant them in pots of soil, to perfect their 
leaves; place them in a situation where they will receive a gentle 
warmth; water as often as they require it, until the leaves begin to 
fade; then treat them as recommended before, and they will flower 
again the succeeding year. 
25. Growing in fine Sea-Sand .—It has been stated that hyacinths 
grow better in fine sea-sand than in water-glasses. W e are scarcely 
prepared to speak either for or against the practice, having never 
tried the system. There is little doubt, however, according to our 
judgment, but sand would answer, if it were kept constantly moist; 
*but if allowed to become dry, the bulb would evidently not make 
much progress. 
26. Diseases .—They are subject to numerous diseases, particularly 
one termed the ring: the cause of this malady is yet unknown. It 
has been found that bulbs, kept regularly in the open ground, are 
not liable to it like those dried and kept up in bags. The only re¬ 
medy known is, to cut out the infected part as soon as it appears, 
and expose the wound to the influence of the sun and air, until it is 
healed. The crown of the bulb is sometimes injured by the bed be¬ 
ing exposed to heavy rains : by this the bulbs will grow into offsets, 
and not flower. Others again have their fibres injured from the 
same cause, by which means they flower very weakly; as they do 
also when infested with the wire-worm. 
27. Propagation by Ojfisels _These may be planted on beds a 
fortnight sooner than the usual time of planting the flowering bulbs. 
Make the bed of good light rich mould, raised six inches above the 
level of the surrounding ground, rounded as recommended for the 
flowering hed. 
28. Plant the bulbs in rows, six inches apart, and four inches from 
bulb to bulb, or closer if they are very small; cover them with about 
two inches of light dry soil; and nothing more is necessary than to 
keep the bed free from weeds, and occasionally stirring up the soil 
on the surface of the bed. 
29. Take them up at the same time as the flowering bulbs, re¬ 
plant them at the proper season, and treat them afterwards in every 
respect as the old bulbs. 
