THE GARDEN.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume X, Issue 509, 12 January 1883, Page 25

THE GARDEN.

The Hyacinth. — The hyacinth has long been an inmate of our gardens, where it is esteemed one of oar earliest and most beautiful spring flowers ; and for producing a brilliant display in the greenhouse or sitting-room during the winter months it is scarcely surpassed by any other bulbous plant. It is propagated by seeds for obtaining new varieties, but as these are mostly imported from the Contineut, that mode of propagation is seldom practised in this country. The seed may be sown in September in light sandy mould, and covered to the depth of half an inch. During the winter protection should be given from frost ; and when the leaves aie down, one inch of fine mould should be sifted over the plants, and in the following year they must be treated in the same way. In the third year the bulbs may be taken up, when the leaves turn yellow, and afterwards they should be treated as old bulbs, only not covered so deeply. The seedlings flower in the fourth or two following yeare. The offsets are removed soon after tue bulbs are taken up ; they should be planted two inches deep, in a bed of light soil, deeply dug, where they will merely requiie to have their flower stems cut off for two years after planting, and to be treated in other respects like the old bulbs. They may be planted in the autumn of the third year in a bed for blooming. Although the hyacinth will bloom well in any good garden soil of a light nature, yet to'flower in perfection and maintain the bulbs in a healthy condition a bed should be specially prepared for its growth. The situation should be rather high, and well exposed to the sun ; and if superfluous moisture does not readily pass away the ground should be deeply and thoroughly drained. The soil ought to be dug out in August to the depth of at least two feet, and replaced with prepared compost. As to what is the most suitable some diversity of opinion exists. The Dutch use soil of the lightest description — their own light, sandy mould, rendered still lighter by the addition of fine sand, and enriched with cowdung or decayed leaf-, mould. In this country soil of a heavier description is usually employed, but there can be no doubt that sandy spil is the most suitable. It is in such that the plant grows naturally ; it is in such that the Dutch cultivate the fine varieties which they yearly export to all parts of Europe ; and it is in such alone, we believe, that there is any prospect of preserving these for any considerable time in our climate — cold and sunless in spring and summer, as compared with that which the plant enjoys in its eastern home. We would therefore recommend a compost of two parts light friable turfy loam, or sandy loam and peat, and decayed leaf-mould sand, and rotten cow manure, one part of each, the whole well mixed, laid in a heap for some months previous to uso, and occasionally turned. The bed having been filled with the prepared soil, so that, allowing for settling, it may be about four inches above the adjoining path, should be levelled in October, keeping the centre two inches higher than the sides for a bed of the ordinary width — four feet. Planting may then be proceeded with, placing the bulbs eight inches apart, and at a depth of from three to seven inches, according to the size of the bulb, the nature of the variety (whether strong-growing or the contrary), and the lightness of the soil. The largest bulbs, and the strongest-growing varieties, should be planted deepest ; but in heavy soils it is not advisable to cover so deeply as in those of a lighter description. As a general rule, four or five inches may be taken as good average depths in light soil. A little silver sand ought to be placed beneath each bulb, which, when placed in its position, should likewise be just covered with sand. After planting, no attenti©n is required except protecting the bed from severe frost by a layer of turf-mould, tan, straw, or some protecting material ; but this covering should be removed before the plants push in spring, when they may be protected by hoops and mats, but these must be taken off whenever the weather is favourable ; otherwise more damage is likely to arise by the leaves and stems being drawn up than from frost. When in bloom, an awning of calico or thin canvas may be placed over the bed, to screen the flowers from sun during the heat of the day ; but it should be taken off before evening, and after flowering this cover may be kept on during heavy rain. At all other times, however, the plants should be freely exposed to air and light. The flower stems should be broken immediately after the bloom has faded, as the production of seed will tend to exhaust the bulbs. These must be taken up when the foliage assumes a yellow colour, and the leaves having been cut off, spread out on a dry bottom in an airy place which is shaded from strong sun, to complete their maturity. During the process of drying they ought to be occasionally turned, and any loose earth adhering to the roots shaken off and all unsound bulbs picked out. When dry, the rough outside skin, fibreß, and offsets may be removed if they part readily from the bulbs, which may then be placed, without touching each other, in open drawers with perforated bottoms, in baskets, or on shelves, in a dry, airy place, where they should be occasionally looked over, and any which exhibit symptoms of unsoundness carefully removed.

Judges of the Supreme Court in Arkansas prohibit by formal orders the sale of liquors within a distance of three miles from a public or private school.

The Carmelites of New Orleans received a cablegram from Borne, announcing that the petition presented by their Rev. Father General had been favourably received,