Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1872-12-21
Hyacfnths I'm Sponge.

SpouSc.
Correspondence Country GeatIenan1
III December last, while sitting before a blaz-
ing fire in the coy library at Ender by, L asked
myself this question-What can 1 do for nv IA
yorite science this winter? What offering can
l bring to my sweet mistress, whose breath is
fragrant with the odOr of spring flowers, and
whose ripe lips are laden with the perfumed
juice of the strawberry and nectarine?
"Ah, distinctly | remember,
1t was in the bleak December"
Geld and clustering without, but warm and
comforting within. Books, magazines, and
catalogues were lying in generous profusiOn on
the study table near me; the dear partner of
my life was writing to distant friends, and in
my hands was package of hyacinth bulbs
shaped glasses that for forty years had been
used for the purpose of coaNIng these little
round balls to open their hearts. and premature
offer their sweet incense to the Giyer OF all
good.
Painfully aware of the uncertainty of the task
before me, and knowing well tn at oftentlmes,
with the greatest care and attention, these ca
PRECIOUS little beauties will not yield up their
treasures before the warm spring sun has invited
them to his love feast, made the inquiry: els
there not some better way to accomplish this
same result-some substance in the great labor
atory OF nature more closely reese milling the
soft, warm bosom of the earth than the hard
cold glasses before ne?" MY fair attendant
whispered, Try wool, cotton, mosses," Sc
but to each of these found objections. The
constitute mt parts OF each were not W at wanted
The power of capillary attraction was not sun
clently strong, and for many other reasons
they would not answer, and was about to yi We
it up when suddenly a sprite from old oceans
bTlny DEPTHS appeared, and shouting, IL bring
you sponge" instantly vanished Springinp
10 my feet with an energy that fairly startled
my dear wife, L exclaimed, "Fureka!" The
very thing L want; soft, warm and Welding:
power OF capillary attraction perfect; porous
admitting freely the fruitful atmosphere throu sh
thousand tiny apeitures; powerful absorbent
and evanorator OF moisture; and besides All this
An ANNA substance, and doubtless filed with
nitrcgenous matters, which, dissolving in the
water, viii act as fertilizers to the plants, or II
they be not there in sufficient quaotity they
may be placed in the water with the same resuit
liquid manure. Good will try it. did try
III, ano with great success, and hundreds of per-
cons who witnessed the beautiful experiment can
testify.
procured large. coarse sponge, such as
coachmen use In washing carriages, and mi king
and two long, with sharp knife, In the ton.
inserted the bulbs in the openings which, in
consequence OF the elastic nature of the sponge,
closed over them, permitting only the points to
IN two concentric circles around a fine large
fellow in their axis, numbering fifteen in all
then placed the whole thing in the top of a
large vase, capable of holding nearly two gaI-
Ions, and filled the vase by pouring water
through the sponge until about one half of the
sponge was below the surface of the water and
warmed 50 as to produce a bottom heat, SO very
necessary in striking cuttings and otherwise
forcing We getaton; and being kept In a warm
room. 1T was not allowed to become cold.
In two or three days the bulbs began to shoot
their bright green spires upward, giving
promise OF success, and in two or three weeks
they were five or six inches high. About this
time, in order to hide the slightly appearance
OF the sponge, scattered few thimblesfuI of
rape seed over the surface, between the bulbs
which sprang up almost immediately, and Gov.
cred IL entirely with fine moss-like MANTLE
adding greatly to the beauty of the experiment
Desiring to extend the knowledge and useful
ness OF the discovery and the enjoyment of its
beauty; now had 1t taken to my store in town,
where 1t soon became an object of interest to
great numbers OF ladies who watched its pro-
gress almost daily, until the bright flowers
more radiant than Solomon in an his glory p
uniolded their shining petals, filling the air
win fragrance, and astonishing every one with
their unusually large size and perfect FORMS
Inc experiment was pronounced q complete
One remarkable feature Of the process is the
extraordinary rapidity of the growth On the
third OF March found box Of tulip bulbs o n
the top shelf of my little greenhouse, nearly
frozen to death, but still striving to shoot ont
bright green point TO tell us that spring Is nigh
thought would try them in the sponge In
snr S DAYS tney shot upwards like mushrooms,
are eight and ten inches high, and showing
mower, stalks and buds. For the past two or
three days they have grown one inch and half
magic.
Now, what does this mean? Is it really
something new" or is it an old thing, tried
long ago and discarded as useless?
see before me long line of interesting ex-
periments, but intend to keep at them. HFaint
heart never won fair lady," and IL he who wor-
ships the fair goddess Of fruits and flowers,
would win her smile, he must WOO her with a
bold and resolate heart
Inc experiment with the tulip bulbs was not
successful, owing, think to their frosted con-
dltion. will try them next year with fresher
and better bulbs twill surely be q novelty to
force tulips into premature blooming, with
m,yaclnths and crocusses, in our parl0rs and
libraries In winter.
nope, Mr.. Editor, that others will try this
experiment, and let US have the results i'm vonr
valuable paper. CHARLss REpss
EHderty, Baltimore Co., Nd
AN ABSURD MIsrAKR-An ahsn.d .a;s.al-A