September 28, 1907. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
629 
Hyacinth Grand Maitre. [ Dickson, Brown and Taii. 
R Good Exhibition? Hyacinth. 
-Grand Maitre. —- 
The above is a good exhibition variety 
of single Hyacinth, and being one of the 
standard varieties, has been well tried 
over a period of years, and can be relied 
upon. These bulbs, like Daffodils, are 
multiplied by offsets, although the 
growers can encourage the multiplica¬ 
tion of new and valuable varieties by put¬ 
ting them through a certain process. 
Since the bulbs, however, multiply by 
offsets, it is only necessary to grow these 
until they reach flowering size under the 
favourable conditions which - the Dutch 
bulb growers are able to supply. These 
favourable conditions can be obtained in 
few districts of this country. 
To get the best value from the stan¬ 
dard Hyacinths they should be potted up 
singly as soon as received in 6 in. pots. 
Those who grow for exhibition do, of 
course, use 8 in. pots in order to get 
spikes of the larger size. Very good re¬ 
sults are, however, obtainable in the more 
convenient 6 in. pot. These should be 
well drained and a compost of two parts 
of good fibrous loam, one part each of 
leaf mould and well decayed manure, to¬ 
gether with sufficient sand to make the 
soil porous. 
Clean pots should be used, and when 
they are carefully drained the pots 
should be filled up with soil, just loosely, 
and the bulb placed on the middle of 
this and pressed into the soil. Fairly 
firm potting may be given in this manner, 
so that the bulb will be three parts 
covered, or have just the tip of the bulb 
appearing through the top of the soil. 
The beginner may not hit this happy 
medium to begin with, but a little practice 
will soon enable him to press the bulb 
with the forefinger and thumb of each 
hand to the proper depth in the pot, and 
then only should the soil be pressed 
firmly and equally all round. Avoid the 
mistake of making the soil in the pot firm 
before putting in the bulb, because the 
latter would almost certainly push itself 
out of the soil in its endeavour to push 
the roots into the hard soil in the bottom 
of the pot. 
When the bulbs have been potted, they 
should be-stood on a bed of ashes on a 
hard surface, where worms may not be 
able to get into the pots. The latter 
should be plunged in cocoanut fibre or 
coal ashes, the former being the better 
material. About 2 in. of cocoanut fibre 
should be put over the top, and this will 
help to keep the bulbs in position until 
they have thoroughly rooted into the soil. 
The latter should be properly moist at 
the time of potting, and no water will be 
necessary immediately after. The bed 
on which they are stood should, of course, 
be fully exposed to the elements, and 
any rain that falls will be beneficial to 
the bulbs, rather than otherwise. 
As soon as the flower spike has pushed 
about an inch above the soil, the bulbs 
should be uncovered and placed under the 
shelter of a cold frame until it is con¬ 
venient or necessary to put them in a 
greenhouse or forcing pit or window, as 
the case may be. In any case, the bulbs 
should be fully exposed to light when¬ 
ever the leaves make their appearance* 
and air given on all favourable occasions 
throughout the winter. The accompany¬ 
ing illustration of this fine variety was 
put at our disposal by Messrs. Dickson, 
Brown and Tait, Corporation Street, 
Manchester. 
-4~v*- 
Narcissus 
Sir Watkin. 
For many years past the above Daffodil 
has enjoyed the distinction of being the 
largest and best of the varieties of N. 
incomparabilis for making a display, 
either in beds or out of doors. All parts 
of the plant are of a fine size, including 
bulbs, leaves and flowers, which are the 
desideratum of the grower. Most 
[Robert Sydenham. 
Narcissus Sir Watkin. 
