When the stalk is about three inches high, if it is well formed, expose the plants to a great heat.

If the leaves grow faster than the stalk, cut off the bunch of roots about an inch below the base of the bulb. This is the experience of Monsieur Vavin, the exhibiter. Let us see if the experience of others confirms it.

We have also to see if he is entitled to the credit of the discovery. In horticulture, as in other sciences, little things are often important; and we can show that this little experiment reveals important points in vegetable physiology.

No modern work which we have consulted mentions cutting off the roots of hyacinths, nor gives any new rules for their culture.

The Dutch have, for ages, excelled in the cultivation of hyacinths, and none can produce them more perfectly. Of the old works which treat of the culture of the hyacinth, we may especially notice the following :—

"The Florilegium" of Swertius, published at Arnheim in 1620, which speaks of about forty varieties of hyacinths, but does not mention a double one.

The work of Pierre Voorhelm, seventy years later, describes the first double variety, "Marie," with white flowers, which sold for one thousand florins. "The New Treatise on the Culture of Flowers," by the gardener Pierre Morin, was published in Paris in 1674.

This little book contained, among many valuable articles, a chapter on hyacinths. They are classed as single and double, early and late, hyacinths of Peru (probably Scilla Peruviana); and the varieties have strange names. The culture prescribed differs little from that of other earlier French works, and the plants do not attain the perfection indicated in the writings of Dutch authors.

The "Treatise on Flowering Bulbs," of Nicolas van Kampen and Son, -published in 1760 in Haarlem, and now very rare, — contains chapters devoted to the choice and composition of soil for hyacinths, and upon the points to be required for a perfect flower. It does not, however, mention culture in water.

A "Treatise on the Culture of Different Flowers" Saugrain, Paris; published anonymously—gives a more elaborate treatise on history and culture than any former writer; and seems to have given the idea of the famous work of St. Simon on the hyacinth ("La Jacinthe"), which

appeared in Amsterdam in 1768, and which contains many ideas which appear to spring from the same source. In the chapter on the culture of hyacinths in water, the work of Saugrain directs the use of either rain or spring water, never hard water, or any containing mineral salts. Bulbs should begin to grow in October. Advocates a plentiful supply of water; the use of earthen pots, provided with a small cock, and made for the purpose; and, during cold weather, the plunging of the pots in hot dung. To have hyacinths all winter, bring the bulbs into growth every ten days ; but do not force the same bulbs the following year.

Miller's "Gardener's Dictionary" treats fully of hyacinths, and tries to rival Haarlem in this respect; but the Dutch rebel, and with reason. The rules of English botanists, at this time, give no new hints.

at

In all these works, we find nothing of the theory which we have broached : St. Simon alone seems to hint at it, when he advances the opinion that time strongly contested—that roots are absolutely useless for the growth of the hyacinth.

"I do not think," he writes, "that the roots of the hyacinth are the channels by which the sap is carried from the earth into the bulb; but, on the other hand, are conduits which serve to free the bulb from too much sap, which is introduced by the solid and spongy mass in the middle of the root, and which is called the eye of the root. It would not be difficult, I think, to make a bulb throw up its flowers without roots; as the maritime squill, the autumnal crocus, the cyclamen, &c. To prove the roots absorb nothing, I have placed them in infusions of blue, of verdigris, India ink, and oil. The verdigris and oil killed the plant; but the roots took up nothing more than in the other colors, and they were perfectly transparent. The roots cut or rotted off will not prevent the flower from pushing."

We see that St. Simon believed that the roots could be cut off without injury, without knowing that it aided the flowering. His theory, that the roots serve as conduits, does not deserve a refutation; but it will appear less ridiculous if we call to mind the formation of hyacinth-roots, composed of a simple channel, undivided, incapable of absorbing liquids when the spongiole at the end has been cut off. We may say that St. Simon approaches nearest the idea of Vavin.

The bulb of the hyacinth, before it pushes, contains in its centre the future flower, perfectly formed.

For its development, a little heat and moisture are suffi

cient; and this development is independent of the organs of

growth.

The leaves, on the contrary, take strength, and transmit it to the bulb, by a call upon the roots, under the influence of light and air. We can easily see that they absorb the greater part of the nourishment, and that they impoverish the flower.

Ed. André, in "Revue Horticole."

HYDRANGEA HORTENSIS FOR OUT-DOOR DECORATION.

PERHAPS no plant has been more generally cultivated than this variety of hydrangea since its introduction by Sir J. Banks. It is a very imposing plant when seen in its smallest form; but when seen out of doors in au tumn, seven feet high, in the form of a large shrub, with thousands of monstrous flowers resting on fine broad green leaves, it presents the grandest subject that can be seen in our climate in connection with the flower-garden, or decorating the margin of ornamental water, where it is most at home. The propagation of this plant is so simple, and its culture in pots. so well understood, that I will not intrude with remarks on any thing save what relates to its out-door culture.

It is frequently asserted that the hydrangea will only succeed in favorable localities near the sea. In the west of England, and south of Ireland, it may be seen with large shrubs, flowering freely without any protection; but it also may be seen thirty miles inland quite as fine by some attention to culture. The Hydrangea hortensis is a wonderful plant to suit situation : it may be seen in monstrous cymes on a wall facing south. On a north wall it will flower equally grand, although not so abundantly under the branches of trees, on the edge of a pond, or planted on a rock, it will flower profusely. It must not be inferred from this that good culture is not necessary: there is no common plant on which high culture will tell more strikingly.

In commencing with young plants, the practice here is to grow them on a bed of loam and peat in a rough state. The plants are planted on the

surface, and mulched with rotted dung, and watered as frequently as circumstances will permit. The plants are removed and protected in winter until the wood assumes a shrubby character; when they are permanently planted out, or kept in borders, and regularly transplanted to suit require

ments.

In a climate where frost would destroy the annual shoots, the plants may be taken up and put into any sort of shed, with straw, or any other thatch, to keep out frost. In this sort of treatment, it is important to maintain the vigor of the plants; and to this end it is necessary, when the plants are laid in, to pack firmly moist earth about the roots. No more trouble will be required until the latter end of May; when the plants may be put into summer quarters, and the weak shoots should be freely thinned out, and the beds well watered. The hydrangea will flower but sparingly if planted deep. Surface-feeding will produce the best result in flower, and prevent the weakly shoots that are sure to come from deep planting. Our practice here is to top-dress heavily the large plants with rich pond-mud, about the end of May; and this treatment has lengthened the continuation of bloom. Water is the great element of success in cultivating the hydrangea. In many places where flowers are cultivated, that element is scarce; but, in special cases, deep pits may be dug, and filled up with peaty sods or other spongy materials: this has been done here with success. Some of the pits were dug out six feet deep, the hole filled in with rough sods, on top of which was put a layer of stiff clay, on which was put a layer of rotted dung, and hydrangeas planted over the surface-level. The object of the pits is to secure uniform moisture. The plants are a large size, and flower to admiration. I have tried with various earths the changing of the flowers from pink to blue. I have found the same result in pure clay, pure peat, and in the simple bodies: experience forbids me giving any decided opinion on this matter. Some of the American varieties of hydrangea are very beautiful hardy-flowering shrubs.

Charles M'Donald, in "Scottish Gardener."

[A mixture of iron filings or blacksmith-forge filings with the earth will cause the flowers to change from pink to blue. Watering with chalk-water

will counteract this effect, and change the flowers to pink again. In some soils, the hydrangea naturally flowers blue. - ED.]

LITERARY NOTICES.

BULBS: A Treatise on Hardy and Tender Bulbs and Tubers, by EDWARD SPRAGUE RAND, Jun., author of " Flowers for the Parlor and Garden," &c., &c. Boston: J. E. Tilton & Co. Price $3.00.

THE Science of horticulture, as generally understood and practised in this country, comprehends primarily the culture of fruit; subordinately, that of flowers. The tastes of the American people are practical: fruit is pecuniarily profitable; flowers gratify only the æsthetic sentiment. But following the accumulation of wealth, and the multiplying opportunities for its indulgence, a love for the more delicate and finer gifts of Nature is being rapidly developed; and notably is this true with respect to the love of flowers, and floriculture. In passing, it may be remarked, that the publication of such works as the one under notice has had a powerful influence in effecting this gratifying change. A beautiful garden is now an indispensable adjunct of a country-house; and there are few cityhomes which make any claims to refinement and intellectual culture that are not brightened and perfumed by a few fondly-tended house-plants.

There can be no better evidence of the progress of this revolution than the fact, that the state of popular feeling justifies the preparation of so careful and altogether satisfactory a scientific work as Mr. Rand's "Book of Bulbs." Its subject is strange to most, and novel to all. Only the most enthusiastic floriculturists, of whom there have been comparatively few in this country, have taken pains to inform themselves minutely as to this department of the science. Every one who knows any thing of flowers is aware that the tulips, the hyacinths, the crocuses, and the lilies, in his garden, belong to the bulb family; but what are the distinguishing characteristics of bulbs, their habits, the best mode of their culture, the soils that favor them, their enemies in the insect world, with a thousand other particulars which make up the science itself, are questions which very few, even of our most ardent gardeners, have been competent to answer. It is for the enlightenment of these, and of the great mass to whom the exquisite dyes of the amaryllis and the gladiolus, and the creamy whiteness of the calla (Richardia), are but the common bounty of Providence, to be accepted without gratitude or curiosity, it is for the enlightenment of such that this book was designed. We have no hesitation in saying that the work has been admirably done; and, if it fails of its purpose, we shall be less sanguine as to the speedy popularization of floricultural knowledge. To the multitude, who love flowers as mere things of beauty, and to the ardent amateur, to whom they appeal as illustrating the most exquisite processes of Nature, these biographical sketches of some of the loveliest of the floral sisterhood are full of instruction and delight.

The fact that no authoritative work on bulbs, suited to the age and the advanced state of horticultural knowledge, is now extant, makes this publication especially timely. The works of Loudon and Herbert were admirable in their day, but are no more suited to this than would be the crude specula