A dictionary of modern gardening - University Library

HUN 314 H YA
believed by a few men of science, that " The bells should occupy about one
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this apotheme is the immediate fertil- half the length of the stem, with the
izing component of organic manures, uppermost bell erect,
| being soluble under some circum- " The flowers, whether whole-colourstances,
and entering at once into the ed orstriped, should be clearand bright
roots of plants, dissolved in the mois- those having a contrast of colour in the
ture of the soil. But every relative centre are most esteemed." Card.
research of more modern chemistry is Chron.
against this conclusion, and it is now Offsets.—" The hyacinth is increased
tolerably certain, that a chief nutritive by_ offsets; but to multiply the number
,
i portion of vegetable manures are their of offsets, cuts are made in the under
carbon converted into carbonic acid, part of the bulb, which, by proper
absorbed either in solution with the management and a little care, will be
earth's moisture, or in gaseous form by found filled with offsets next year."
the roots. Apotheme is only one of Card. Chron.
the products formed during the progress Soil.—Mr. Mooy, of Haarlem, from
of putrefaction, and is in its turn a whose communication to the Garden-
source of carbonic acid. Carbonic acid er''s Chronicle this treatise on the cul-
has been long since shown to be beneture of the hyacinth is principally taken,
ficial if applTed to a plant's roots. It says —" They require a fresh, well
|
abounds in the sap of all vegetables drained sandy soil, free from lumps or
though this be drawn from their very stones, and not mixed with any vegelowest
parts, whereas apotheme is in- table matter." Gard. Chron.
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jurious to them if they are grown in a Mr. Home, an equally good authori-
i
ty, adds, that " the hyacinth must never
,
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solution of it, and minutest analyzers
have failed to detect it even within the be planted again in the same soil but
;
extreme vessels of roots. — Prin. 0/ the ground should be allowed to rest
for at least two or three years, or
should be cultivated with greens during
that time ; it should also be well mixed
again, before planting, with some old
cow-dung, especially if the soil is light
or sandy, as hyacinths are very fond of
that manure." Gard. Chron.
Moisture.—This being the most destructive
agent against which the amateur
has to guard, great care should be
taken to protect hyacinths from it, by
selecting the most elevated spot in his
garden. If this is surrounded by a
shallow trench, a little distance oft, it
will be useful, and the bed should also
be raised seven or eight inches above
the ground level.
Planting and Culture.— " The roots
are planted in October, the soil being
prepared by having pure cow-dung
mixed with it one year previously to
Gard.
HUNGARIAN LOTUS. Nymphcza
thermalis.
HUNNEMANNIA fumariafoUa.
Half hardy herbaceous. Division. Common
soil.
HURDLES of iron are the most eligible
modes of fencing, whether for
permanency or temporary purposes.
They are invisible at a short distance,
elegant and durable.
HUTCH INSIA. Seven species.
Hardy herbaceous alpines. Cuttings.
Sandy loam and peat.
HYACINTHUS. Hyacinth. Five
species and as many varieties. Hardy
bulbs. Offsets. Sandy loam. The species
most commonly known is H. orientalis,
the varieties of which are so
conspicuous in our borders and water
vases.
Characteristics of Excellence. — "A
well grown hyacinth should be of a
compact pyramidal form, with a strong,
tall, and upright stem, supporting nu-
j the
i The
! the
—
—
— ;
time of planting. We use a barrowful
of dung per ten yards square.
ground being measured into beds,
soil is taken out of the first to the
depth of five inches, and the bulbs are
merous large bells, each attached by a planted firmly on it, so that the under
'
strong foot-stalk in a horizontal position part is well surrounded with the mould.
to the stem
after which they are covered over with
"The bells should be perfectly dou- the earth taken out of the next bed to
ble, composed of broad, thick, waxy the same depth, which is then ready to
petals, with the centre of the flower be planted, and this is pursued until the
raised, rendering the form convex. whole of the beds arc completed.