We are indebted to Messrs. Cutbush and Son, of Highgate, 
whose annual exhibition of Hyacinths is one of the metropo¬ 
litan floral attractions of the season, for the opportunity of 
figuring the above, and also for the following account of the 
manner in which they succeed in bringing their plants to the 
high degree of perfection which has enabled them to carry off 
all the leading prizes at the spring exhibitions:— 
“ One of the most important points is to select bulbs well- 
ripened, of a firm and close texture : large size is not necessarily 
an advantage, for frequently the best flowers are produced by 
moderate-sized roots. They should be procured as soon as they 
arrive, and not after being exposed in baskets and shop-windows: 
indeed, they should not be taken out of the papers they are 
originally packed in until required for use. We keep ours in 
close boxes, excluding the air as much as possible,* under which 
conditions they will not become deteriorated for three months 
after their arrival. 
“ For soil, well-seasoned turfy loam, mixed with a large pro¬ 
portion of decayed manure and silver sand, is preferable if it 
can be had; but any garden soil, not stiff, if well mixed with 
decayed vegetable refuse and manure from an old hotbed, and 
a good proportion of silver sand, will do for them.; and if silver 
sand is not at hand, road sand or scrapings may be used instead. 
Avoid any soil that will run together hard. The larger the pots 
used the stronger the bloom-spike. We prefer those six inches 
across, and plant so as to leave one-third of the bulb exposed. 
The soil should be moderately moist when they are planted. 
The pots are to be set on a firm bed of coal-ashes, and the whole 
covered over to a depth of from six to nine inches with old tan 
or coal-ashes, previously inverting a small pot over the crown of 
the bulb to protect it from injury. They are to remain thus 
for a month or six weeks, so as to get the pots full of roots be¬ 
fore the crown starts. This is one of the most essential points. 
“ The time for potting must be regulated by what is required; 
but a succession of blooms may be had from Christmas till 
the end of April, by commencing the second week in Septem¬ 
ber, and continuing to pot a few every fortnight till the end of 
November.” 
We must defer further instructions on this subject till another 
opportunity, which will shortly be afforded us. 
