Hyacinthus
To the species and varieties described on pp. 159-60, Vol. II., the following should now be added:
H. azureus (sky-blue). fl., lower ones deep blue, deflexed, with an oblong perianth 1/6in. long, the segments about one-third as long as the tube; upper ones nearly sessile, the sky-blue, campanulate perianth having segments nearly or quite as long as the tube; raceme dense, conical, with a thickened, blue axis; scape rather shorter than the leaves. February. l. six or eight, lorate, erect, glaucous, 4in. to 6in. long, deeply channelled down the face. Bulb white, about 1in. in diameter. Asia Minor. (B. M. 6822.) H. fastigiatus (pyramidal). fl., perianth bright lilac, 1/4in. to 1/3in. long, the segments oblong-lanceolate; raceme few-flowered, in the wild state often congested into a corymb; scape erect, terete, shorter than the leaves. March and April. l. three to six or more, subulate, weak, glabrous, 6in. long, contemporary with the flowers. Corsica and Sardinia, 1882. (B. M. 6663.) H. lineatus (lined). fl., perianth blue, campanulate, 1/8in. to 1/6in. long, ascending; raceme 1in. long, six to twelve-flowered; scape 2in. to 4in. high. Spring. l. two, rarely three, oblong-lanceolate, acute, falcate, line-nerved, 3in. to 4in. long. Asia Minor, 1887. (R. G. 1887, p. 446, f. 114.) VARIETIES. The importation of Hyacinths from Holland increases year by year, and the large growers there are alive to the fact that improved varieties, when they can be offered at a reasonable price, are purchased, as soon as they become known, in preference to the old ones. It is thought by some growers in England that the spikes of blossom in the bulb gardens in Holland are not nearly so perfect as they can be produced in England. This is an error: the quality of the best spikes in the leading Dutch bulb gardens is much superior to that of the best produced in English greenhouses. The growers also complain that customers do not order the new varieties, even when they are proved to be superior to the old sorts. For instance, BOUQUET TENDRE was the best double red fifty years ago: now it has been surpassed by DISRAELI in the same colour; but the trade order the inferior variety. It is the same all through. The following selection is the result of a careful inspection of the flowers growing in the Dutch gardens, and includes the best new ones for culture in England.
Single Black. KING OF THE BLACKS, rich deep black, wellformed compact spike; MASTERPIECE, rich glossy-black, compact solid spike; SIR HY. BARKLEY, purple-black, tall spike, extra fine; UNCLE TOM, shining black, medium spike, early.
Single Blue. CZAR PETER, pale lavender-blue, large bells, massive well-formed spike, extra fine; ELECTRA, pale blue, long handsome spike of large flowers; ENCHANTRESS, porcelain-blue, large truss; GRAND MAITRE, medium blue, darker stripe, very large, immense spike; LORD BYRON, pale blue, deeper blue stripe; PRAALTOMBE, pale blue, long handsome spike; QUEEN OF THE BLUES (Kersten), pale blue, compact spike; SIR CHARLES NAPIER, blue-purple, long spike; SOUVENIR J. H. VEEN, deep purple-blue, massive spike; WILLIAM I., dark purple, long spike, early.
Single Lilac. Mauve, and Violet. CHALLENGER, claret-coloured, medium spike, very distinct; CHARLES DICKENS, reddish-lilac, sport from the blue variety of this name; DISTINCTION, dark mauve-purple, dark stripe, moderate spike; GALATEA, rosy-lilac, long spike; LORD MAYO, purplish-violet, white eye, well-formed, small spike; PRESIDENT LINCOLN, violet-purple, white eye; PYGMALION, rosy-lilac, distinct; THE SHAH, bright lilac-purple, broad spike. Single Red and Pink. AMELIA, large and well-formed, splendid long spike; CHARLES DICKENS, a pink form of the blue variety; DUCHESS OF EDINBURGH, pale rose, long handsome spike; ETNA, rosy-red, broad handsome spike; FABIOLA, pale rose, handsome spike; GERTRUDE, rosy-red, handsome compact spike; GIGANTEA, pale rose, medium, immense spike; KING OF THE REDS, deep red, medium spike; PINK PERFECTION, clear pink, long spike; SOLFATERRE, orange-red, handsome spike; VUURBAAK, crimson, handsome long spike.
Single White. AVALANCHE, pure white, large, long spike; GLOIRE DE HAARLEM, pure white, compact spike; LADY DERBY, a pure white form of the pale blue LORD DERBY, very fine; LA FRANCHISE, creamy-white, very large; MRS. VEITCH, pale blush, large and well-formed, handsome spike; PRINCESS OF WALES, clear white, well-formed, long compact spike; ROYAL BRIDE, pure white, large, compact spike; WHITE PERFECTION, pure white, well-formed, handsome spike. Single Yellow, CRITERION, clear yellow, well-formed, handsome spike; KING OF THE YELLOWS, pure yellow, of good substance, compact spike; OBELISQUE, clear yellow, compact spike; ORANGE ABOVE, orange-buff, medium spike; QUEEN OF THE YELLOWS, clear deep yellow, large spike.