THE LADIES' FLORAL CABINET. 
255 
the depth of at least fifteen inches, and provision made 
for effectual drainage. Although the bulbs can be grown 
in glasses with water, they will not flourish if the earth 
is soddened. If the soil is dug to the depth-of fifteen 
inches, six inches of manure should be placed at the 
bottom, and covered with four inches of soil; upon this 
place the bulbs, say, five inches apart each way. If the 
soil is of a heavy, tenacious character, cover the bulbs 
with a little coarse sand, then cover the whole with soil 
so that the crowns will be at least five inches below the 
surface. For the best success plant in September, but. 
good flowers are often obtained when plantings are de¬ 
ferred until November. The selection of bulbs is a 
somewhat important matter, although to a considerable 
extent one of individual taste, particularly as regards 
colors and double or single forms. In selecting the bulbs 
always choose the heaviest and most solid ; size is not of 
so much importance, except for forcing either in pots or 
glasses, when the largest bulbs should be chosen, as they 
give the longest spikes of bloom. For the open border 
we prefer medium or small bulbs, as they will remain 
longer in the ground without division,- giving annually 
fine spikes of flowers. 
After the top of the ground is frozen hard the beds 
should have a liberal mulching of newly fallen leaves; 
this will prevent alternate freezing and thawing, which 
is so injurious to the bulbs. 
To grow the hyacinth successfully in glasses demands 
no horticultural skill, for children often produce very 
creditable specimens. It only requires the intelligent ap¬ 
plication of certain well-known principles. Like all other 
bulbs, the hyacinth should have its roots formed before 
top growth begins. The flower is cultivated in water for 
two principal reasons: the pleasure derived from seeing 
the entire plant, and the enhanced decorative value in¬ 
sured by this mode of treatment. As darkness retards 
top growth but does not delay the production of roots, it 
is usual to place the glasses in a cool cellar or dark closet, 
and if these situations happen to be airy, as well as cool 
and dark, there can be no better place in which to start 
the bulbs. Still, it must be admitted that darkness is not 
essential for the development of roots. But darkness 
and coolness alike tend to delay the growth of foliage 
until roots are formed. Therefore, if the cultivator re¬ 
solves to have the plant in view from the commencement, 
he will have to rely on a low and uniform temperature for 
securing these ends. 
The water must always be pure and bright, and it 
should not quite touch the bulbs or the latter will rot. 
A rather low temperature and free access of pure air 
should be regarded as necessary conditions of health in 
all stages of growth. Hence, it will be obvious that a 
mantelpiece, with its fluctuations of heat and cold, is a 
most unsuitable position for the glasses; this is equally 
true in regard to placing the glasses on window-sashes, 
where they receive cold draughts of air and glaring sun¬ 
shine. We would like to remark that the hyacinth is a 
friend of the most humble, and will succeed in a tumbler 
or fruit can as well as in the most expensive vase or glass. 
For pot culture there is no plant that succeeds better 
than the hyacinth. Prepare the pots carefully as to drain¬ 
age, and fill them with a light, rich, porous compost. 
Remove a little soil from the central surface, and into this 
opening lightly press the bulb, and pack the earth some¬ 
what firmly round it, leaving about half the bulb visible. 
If the bulb is pressed too firmly into the soil, when the 
roots begin to grow, instead of penetrating, they will lift 
the bulb out of its proper position. To prevent this, the 
pots may be covered with coal ashes, which will also 
serve to check leaf-growth, thus answering a double pur¬ 
pose. At this stage the pots can be stored in any cool 
and safe position. A shaded border, where they can be 
covered with ashes, is as good as can be obtained. For 
the earliest flowers select the single varieties, as these 
naturally come into bloom somewhat in advance of the 
double. For a succession, bring in the pots from the 
first of December until the first of February, as desired. 
If much top-growth has been made, gradually bring them 
to the light until the natural color is gained, when they 
will stand all the light and heat the living-room or con¬ 
servatory will afford. It will augment the beauty of the 
flowers and prolong their period of usefulness to keep 
them in a low temperature ; they will, however, adapt 
themselves to almost any degree of temperature. 
The next in order of Dutch bulbs for garden decora¬ 
tion is the Tulip, and there is no better time to form beds 
of this popular flower than during the present month. 
However, planting of tulips may be deferred until No¬ 
vember, and good success obtained; but it is better to 
plant early. The bulbs should be buried four or five 
inches deep, according to size, and it is important that 
each kind should be put in at a uniform depth to insure 
a simultaneous display. The tulip delights in the same 
soil as the hyacinth, and it should be prepared in the 
same manner. The. late single varieties are the tulips 
which were formerly so highly prized by florists, and 
they are to-day by far the most desirable for planting in 
the open border. For these bulbs it was the custom to 
prepare the soil with extraordinary care when the tulip 
craze was at its height. After the amazing folly of pay¬ 
ing $2,000 for a single bulb, the minor folly of extrava¬ 
gance in treating the soil may be readily pardoned. 
Happily, that phase of the business has passed away, 
and handsome tulips are now grown with a moderate ex¬ 
penditure of labor and money. The finest quality of these 
bulbs can now be obtained at a price which will permit 
their general cultivation; they are valued because with 
little care they will rapidly increase, instead of deterio¬ 
rating, as is the case with many other bulbs and plants. 
The site for this flower should be sunny, the soil fairly 
rich, and the drainage good. With these conditions, and 
bulbs which are sound and heavy, it is easy to obtain a 
magnificent show of blossoms. Tulips of the earlier class 
are of great value for forcing or for house culture, be¬ 
cause of their brilliant colors and elegant forms. They 
take kindly to house culture, and adapt themselves to 
almost any temperature, but prefer it moderately even. 
Several bulbs may be put into one pot, and they will suc¬ 
ceed quite as well as though grown singly. Treated in 
the same manner as the hyacinth in pots, a succession of 
flowers can be kept up the entire winter. An eight-inch 
pot is sufficiently large for a dozen bulbs, and these should 
