Plate 15. 
VARIETIES OP ORIENTAL HYACINTH. 
Hyacinthus orient alls, vars . 
The Hyacinth, which may well claim to be regarded as a 
household flower, has within the last few years been very much 
improved, the most decided improvements having taken place in 
the colour of the new varieties. There has also been wrought 
no small advance in form, as we hope to illustrate on an early 
occasion. In the meantime we offer portraits of two of the 
most remarkable in respect to colour. They are new but in¬ 
expensive kinds, every way worthy of general cultivation. 
The variety called Lina affords the brightest colour yet pro¬ 
duced : so brilliant, indeed, that at Messrs. Cutbush s exhibition, 
last spring, it stood out as the most glowing of all, amongst 
some five hundred selected from the finest varieties which are 
known. The bells are medium-sized, which is generally the 
case with the red varieties, but they are sufficiently numerous 
to form a bold compact spike of a bright griselle-crimson. It 
has, moreover, a vigorous constitution. 
Argus is without doubt the most distinct and striking variety 
yet obtained. It produces a very fine spike of large bells, the 
varied and contrasted colours of which produce a charming 
effect. The tube is externally of a bright glossy cobalt-blue, 
the segments of the limb indigo-blue, and the eye clear white 
pencilled towards the outer edge. The plant is of a free and 
vigorous constitution, and the plant is altogether very attractive. 
Plate 15. —Hyacixthus oriextalis, varieties :— 
Tig. 1 . Lixa: perianth medium-sized, about three-fourths of au inch 
long, single, bright griselle-red. 
Tig. 2. Argus : perianth large, about an inch long, single, indigo-blue ; 
the tube bright cobalt; the eye white. 
