142 
CULTURE OF THE HYACINTH. 
30. Propagation by Seeds —Select some of the finest single or 
semi-double ones for producing seed, such as have strong fine stems, 
and well-formed hells; but always prevent the bulbs intended for 
flowering the succeeding season from hearing seed, or they will be 
materially weakened. 
31. Never gather the seed until it is perfectly ripe, •which will be 
known by the seed-vessels beginning to open. Cut off the whole 
stem, and place it on a sheet of paper in a dry, airy room, until the 
time of sowing. This is always preferable to clearing it from the 
husk, because, when done so, it is apt to shrivel, and seldom grows 
freely. 
32. The best time to sow is in October, about the same time that 
the offsets are planted. Fill boxes or pans with good light loam and 
sand, or with the same kind of soil as recommended for planting the 
bulbs in. Cover the seed not less than one-fourth of an inch, nor 
more than half an inch deep. 
33. When the seed is sown, place the pans or boxes in a green¬ 
house, or frame, during winter. In the spring remove them to a 
somewhat shaded situation; and they require little attention, except 
keeping clean from weeds, until they are up ; they will then proba¬ 
bly require occasionally watering. When' the tops have died down, 
add a thin layer of fresh soil to the top, but without disturbing the 
roots, until the leaves have died the second year, when the bulbs 
may be taken and replanted, after the manner of old bulbs or offsets. 
34. If so treated, some of the strongest will very likely show 
flow’er the third or fourth year after sowing; they may then be se¬ 
lected—the good ones for beds and forcing—the moderate ones for 
border-flowers. 
Criterion of a good Hyacinth. —“The stem should be strong, 
tall, and erect, supporting numerous large bells, each suspended by a 
short and strong peduncle or footstalk, in a horizontal position, so 
that the whole may have a compact, pyramidal form, with the crown 
or uppermost flower perfectly erect. The flowers should be large 
and perfectly double ; that is, well filled with broad, bold petals, ap¬ 
pearing to the eye rather convex than flat or hollow : they should 
occupy about one-half the length of the stem. The colours should 
be clear and bright, whether plain, red, white, or blue, or variously 
intermixed and diversified in the eye : the latter, it must be confes¬ 
sed, gives additional lustre and elegance to this beautiful flower. 
Strong bright colours are, in general, preferred to such as are pale.* 
Maddock, and Encyclop. Gard. 
