The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1884-12-13 00:00:00

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 1311884- _ 1

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THE CULTURE OF HYACINTHS.

Looking through last week's Observer I found a
Column on chrysanthemums and their culture, which
was very seasonable. They are everywhere getting
the rage, and are considered the Queen of Autumn,
but as it requires a greenhouse of some kind to
flower them in a good many people have to give
them up in despair, as they are not fortunate enough
to possess one, and some who have a greenhouse for
a hobby have no time to grow them, as they require
such a deal of attention in their growing season, but
people can have a flower (even in mid winter) if
they possess neither garden, greenhouse, nor Utile,
and ti at flower is the hyacinth. Everyone may
enjoy a hyacinth, as they can be grown as well in
water as in pots with soil. They want neither
frames nor greenhouse; all that is wanted is to pop
them in a dark cupb ard or cellar till they make
plenty of root, and then be brought out and placed
as near the panes of the window as almost to touch
the glass. This prevents them drawing and enables
the bulb to make a sturdy growth. The best
hyacinths to grow are the single ones. Anyone
-starting to grow this interesting plant may suit their
own fancy of glasses. There ate different sorts and
colours, but it is no detriment to the plant what
kind are used. The main feature in the glass cul-
ture is the water, which should be rain water. pure
and clean, and a few lumps of charcoal placed at
the bottom, so as to prevent it becoming otlensive.
Fill the glasses so as to.not guise touch the bulb As
th water evaporates it should be reple ished, taking
care not to fill the glass too full. Ksep it at a level
as much as posiible so as not to check the roots. A
ii tie supporter may be stuck in.() the bulb without
injury. To tie the flewer to others it is apt to snap
the stem through the weight of the truss. A. the
leaves become dusty th .y may be cleansed with a
sponge dipped in water, but particular care must be
taken not to iejure them in the process. When
grown in pots they should be treated similarly as
regards keeping them in a dark cool place, so as to
cause them to snake plenty of roots before they be-
gin to grow, and then the bloom is a great deal
finer. Get a clean 4-inch pot with good drainage
over the hole, say three quarters of an inch deep,
place et or that a little cow dung, not new, thcn
till in with good f sable loam with a dash of sand
amongst it to keep the :oil open. This mixture
suits then the best as the roots reach the manure
just when most needed. The bulbs should all but
be covered and a good sprinkling of sand under and
over, so as to prevent them going mouldy, and if the
soil is in a nice moist condition they will not re-
quire watering till the flower spike is visible They
will g ra.l ualiy require mere as they come in flower,
but at no time must th iy be saturated. They must
he nicely staked so as to keep the truss from break-
ing through over-balancing. To keep them in
beauty as long as possible keep them in an equal
temperature, varying from 45 to 50 degrees. After
blooming they used no be thrown to the dust heap
as useless, as many people do, but can be kept in a
quiet corner till they die off naturally and then be
planted in a corner of the garden. Any ordinary
treatment will do. Plant about 6 inches deep.
They will, if properly cared for, make quite a display
of bloom, not the first year, but they will be well
established by the second and almost be equal to
imported bulbs. I could speak of many other
methods of growing this most interesting plant, but
it is more for those who have no garden or green-
house and yet are lovers of flowers whom I mean to
benefit if 1 can.—Communicated.