HYACINTHS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20982, 19 September 1931, Page 8 (Supplement)

HYACINTHS.

MANY POPULAR SPECIES. Hyacinths are esteemed as the most popular of spring-flowering bulbs for outdoor, and when grown in pots or in glasses for indoor decoration. By planting at the proper time and by careful management hyacinths may be had in flower for a long time in succession. In Britain the supplies for forcing and for out-door cultivation come from Holland, the whole of the trade being left to the Dutch. The soil there is sandy and specially adapted for growing them in large quantities. r J he early Roman hyacinth is a very useful, easily-grown, free-flowering species. The charming little grape hyacinth (Muscari azureum) has upright cpikes of bright blue flowers and is now completing its flowering. Planted in masses this species is very attractive. The wood hyacinth (Scilla. nutans) is a hardy species for naturalising in the grass beneath deciduous trees and along woodland walks. The Cape hyacinth (Lachenalia), in several very showy varieties, now in full flower, succeeds everywhere, also in hanging baskets and flower pots. GARDEN HYACINTHS. . The numerous and very beautiful garden varieties of hyacinths, with their large spikes, surrounded with single and double flowers of various colours, have originated from the orientalis of Eastern origin. For these the credit is duo to the Dutch, who have raised and named the majority of the garden varieties now in cultivation. The colours comprise pure whites, various shades of blue, rose, red, yellow, and purple. The flowers arc deliriously perfumed. CAPE HYACINTHS. Lachenalias, • or Cape hyacinths, have become very popular either for the open garden or for cultivation in hanging baskets or in shallow seed pens. There are numerous varieties, mostly of the easiest cultivation. For bordering near the edges of walks and flower beds they are unexcelled and are now in the greatest profusion ,of brilliant hyacinth-like flower spikes. They are also adapted for window boxes and indoor decorations. CULTIVATION OF HYACINTHS. For out-door planting select medium to lar;;e sized, perfectly sound bulbs. Plant in beds or in clumps in deeply-dug, well drained, light, loamy soil, with a little well-rotted manure well incorporated. Arrange the bulbs about nine inches apart and three inches deep. Keep the soil around them perfectly free from weeds and occasionally lightly stirred, and take special precautions to rid the soil of slugs, which are most destructive in eating the young flower stems as they appear above the surface. Hyacinths, when in flower, well repay for any extra care devoied to their culture. CULTURE IN POTS. For culture in pots the large-flowered, singlo varieties arc the best. Select good sized sound bulbs, pot them into five or fiix inch pots in a compost of fibrv loam and manure in about equal parts with a little river sand added. Lightly fill the .pot and press the bulb firmly down into the soil, covering its crown. Plunge the pots in a frame and cover the surface with about six inches of ashes. When the pots become filled with roots take them out of the ashes and place them in the greenhouse or in a glass frame and frequently syringe them to encourage top growth and flower stems. GROWING IN GLASSES. _ For growing in glasses the single varieties of hyacinths are the best. Use soft, rain water for filling the glasses with a little charcoal placed in it. Insert the bulbs in moss, with the base in contact with the water. Place the glasses in a cool, dark place until roots arc emitted. PRIMULA FAMILY. ATTRACTIVE VARIETIES. The very attractive display of Primula nbeomea at the recent Horticultural Show in all the latest improved varieties, grown and exhibited in pots, each plant having several sprays of flowers in the fullest perfection, was a fitting tribute to the great value of this primula as a decora tive pot plant. The plants come into flowering early and continue throughout the winter. The flowers are invaluable for cutting. They are of the easiest cultivation. With the later development of the flowers in form and beauty, the foliage has lost the objectionable characteristics that affect some growers in handling the plants. Unfortunately this primula is not adaptable for out-door cultivation. ANOTHER DAINTY SUBJECT. Primula inalacoides makes a dainty subSect for pot and for out-door cultivation and has become a general favourite and invaluable winter-flowering plant, being sufficiently , hardy to withstand our" wet winters and wefc soil conditions. The blooms are produced in the greatest abundance, each stem carrying several whorls of flowers. Under careful selection, the original lilac colour of the first, introduction has given place to pure white and to pretty rose and pink shades. Some are ! arger £V d Tnuch fuJk *!' tljan original jype. They are splendid bordering plants.