In the Numbers for February and March will be found brief descriptions of a few hardy perennials, which are well adapted for the decoration of the flower garden in spring and which may now be transplanted with great safety.

But after all, perhaps, Dutch and other flower roots make the grandest and most dazzling display. It is difficult to imagine anything more brilliant than a garden in spring effectively planted with Hyacinths, Tulips, Narcissus, Jonquils, Irises, Scilla, Crocuses, etc.

The cultivation of the whole of them is very simple, they will flower in the ordinary soil of most gardens; it should however, be dug deeply, and if stiff, a little leaf soil and sand should be worked well up with it; the beds should also be well drained, as nothing is so prejudicial to bulbs of any kind as moisture.

Planted in the usual manner they will require little more attention, except covering with leaves or litter in very severe frost.

As Hyacinths, to flower them well, require rather more care, I will offer a few remarks on their culture.

Situation.

This should, if possible, be rather elevated and dry, and sheltered from cold winds, with a southern exposure; if the subsoil be wet or retentive it should be effectively drained.

Soil.

This should be a light, sandy, fresh, rich earth, which may be composed in the following manner:-- Take one half sandy loam from a common or parterre, to this add a fourth part rotten leaves and cowdung, and the other fourth part white sand. Mix them well together, and throw it into a heap, where it may remain until you use it, taking care to turn it over frequently.

This soil should be laid 2 feet deep on the beds intended for Hyacinths, and if a little rotten cowdung or bark be laid at the bottom it will be all the better.

Planting.

The best season for planting the bulbs is the early part of October; but as it is not always convenient to plant them so early in the flower garden, they will flower pretty well, if the bulbs be good, if planted any time up to the middle or end of December. The operation should take place in dry open weather, and the bulbs hould be planted 6 to 8 inches apart all over the bed, and fully 4 inches deep, rounding the beds a little in the middle to throw off the wet.

Moisture.

This being very injurious to Hyacinths, great care should be taken to protect the bulbs from it. Too much moisture causes the roots to rot. In case of heavy rain or melting snow, the beds should be covered either with boards or spare lights, which should be removed in dry weather. Too much attention cannot be paid to these matters, if fine flower-stems are wished for.

Frost.

Frost is only injurious when it comes in contact with the bulbs, therefore they should be protected in proportion to its intensity. In general a few inches of rotten tan spread over the beds will be sufficient protection; but when the frost is very severe, it will be advisable to have leaves or straw place over them a few inches in thickness.

But this extra covering should only remain on in very severe frost; it should be taken off whenever the weather is mild, for where the beds are covered with a few inches of rotten tan no common frost can penetrate through--so the extra coverings are useless, except in very severe frosts. A frost that penetrates only 3 or 4 inches deep is preferable to too mild weather, or to the injury and inconvenience sustained by too much covering.

The rotten tan should all be very carefully taken off the beds in spring. If the weather be frosty when the flower-stems appear, the bed should be covered at night, either with mats, canvass, or some other light material, to protect them from injury; but these coverings must be taken off every day except in case of cutting winds, snow storm, or frost.

When the stems of the flowers are advanced to their height, before the flowers are expanded, a short stick should be placed down by each root, to which the stems should be fastened to support them when the flowers are fully expanded.

Whilst in flower they should be protected from heavy rains, wind, and sun, but they should have the benefit of all genial gentle showers, and the morning and evening sun.

If the foregoing brief directions be implicitly followed and put into practice, the cultivator will, in all ordinary seasons, experience little difficulty in producing a grand display of these most beautiful flowers, which will amply repay him for the attention and labour bestowed on them.

As Hyacinths of all shades of colour for planting in the garden are offered in all bulb catalogues, I do not deem it necissary to append a list of these.

The inexperienced will not be disappointed, if, when giving their orders, they state what they want, and leave the selection to the dealer.

Stourton. M. Saul.
The Florist and Pomologist - December, 1864