CULTURE OF THE HYACINTHE.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 11, 20 November 1883, Page 3

CULTURE OF THE HYACINTHE.

The proper soil for Hyacinths, that In which they succeed so well in Holland, contains a large proportion of ®ea sand. Around Haarlem, where they are grown to such an extent, the nurseries are situated on low dunes or sand-hills, bordeiing the coast. Every year the bulbs are planted in fresh soil. The bulbs are planted in autumn, and the winter previous the ground is trenched to a depth of 3 to 6ft, Thus new soil is brought to the surface and the old is dug in. The ground is thoroughly manured and a crop of vegetables or potatoes taken off it, In autumn the ground is cleared and lightly dug over. Then the bulbs are planted. They are left in the soil during the whole winter, the ground being covered over with a litter of reeds during the season of frost. They are in flower in the middle of April, when the grounds around Haarlem present that splendid sight for which they are renowned and the air for miles around is filled with perfume. As soon as the flowers begin to wither they are out off to save the bulb from further exhaustion, and are strewed on the ground to be dug in afterwards as manure,

As soon aa the leaves begin to wither, the bulbs arc taken out of the ground and again buried or laid in the soil to allow the roots to ripen, After a fortnight they are again taken up, dried in the sunshine, sifted to clear them of sand, and brought into the bulb houses. By the end of July the bulbs are ready to be sold to purchasers, Sucn is the exact mode of culture in Holland. We have the sandy soil in Gisborne. Would it not be worth while for some of our local gardeners to devote time and attention to the careful culture of this beautiful flower, to which our soil and climate appear so suited ?