HYACINTH CULTURE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5488, 13 February 1896, Page 4

HYACINTH CULTURE.

♦— ... (J.C. in The Field.) Judging from the great demand for bulbs, especially amongst amateurs, hyacinth culture seems to be greatly on the increase, and no wonder, as while nothing can take their place for brightening up the conservatory during February and March, they form thecentre of attraction atall our large spring shows. In purchasing bulbs, mere size is not the chief point to be observed, as extra large ones are frequently soft and immature, , and produce long sparse spikes of flower, with flattened stems and irregularly shaped bells of poor colour. A medium-sized bulb which will not readily yield to pressure from t-hefihgersistobepreferred. Pottingshould not be unduly postponed, as the bulbs lose weight by exposure, and the flower spikes suffer proportionately. A 4sin pot will grow them well enough for all ordinary purposes, but for exhibition a 6in pot is the best. The pots must be well drained, as when in full growth hyacinths will take a deal of Vater, twice daily being none too much. The compost I prefer is three parts fresh loam, of a medium character, the remaining part fresh horse droppings and corhmon road grit. If ordinary farmyard mataure is used, great care must be taken to free it from worms, as these pests quickly injure the plants. Some growers place a portion of rotten manure over the drainage, and certainly the roots work into it freely, but I think a more satisfactory growth is produced by mixing a little with the soil, and then feeding with liquid maimre when the flower spike is developing. After ( potting, stand the pots on a hard ash bottom, place an inverted pot • over each, and cover to a depth of 6in with leaf mould in a rough state. Some use cinder ashes, but in severe weather these become so hard as to almost defy removal without breaking the pots. . I prefer placing some in a frame, so that, in case of very sharp weather, the light can be placed over. The bulbs must be examined from time to time,,and as soon as growth is an inch long the pots must be removed from the plunging material, and arranged either in a pit heated by hot water, or in a light greenhouse. Place an inverted pot over the crowns, removing it in a week's time. This will gradually inure them to the light. The more air admitted the better, so long as actual draught is avoided; but although absolute coolness is best in the earlier stages of growth; a gentle warmth — say 50deg at night— is essential whenthebells are opening. Nothing suits hyacinths better than farmyard liquid, the colour of pale ale ; but where this is not procurable, some safe artificial manure may be used in. moderation, say a teaspoonful to a 6in pot once in ten days. In spite of the many new varieties which have been introduced of late years, many of the older ones are still hard to beat, as, for instance, Charles Dickens, beautiful creamy rose ; Macaulay, rose with dark carmine stripe; Eobert Steiger, bright' crimson ; Grandeur a Merveille, fine pale blush ; La Grandiose, pure white ; Charles Dickens, lilac ; Queen of the Blues ; John Stuart Mill, pale yellow ; and King of the Yellows.