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Iberidella (Species described below)

The species described below is a pretty little subject for the rock garden, or for margins or borders, in sandy soil. Propagated by divisions, or by seeds.

H. petraea (rock).* fl. very minute. Spring. l., radical ones pinnate; stem ones with fewer and narrower segments. h. 3in. Central and Southern Europe (Britain). A glabrous, delicate, erect annual. (Sy. En. B. 151.) HYACINTHUS (the ancient Greek name, used by Homer, for the Iris). Hyacinth. Including Bellevallia, Hyacinthella, and Periboea. ORD. Liliaceae. A genus containing about thirty species of tunicated bulbous plants, of which three are from tropical and Southern Africa, and all the rest natives of the Mediterranean region and the Orient. Flowers in simple, lax or dense racemes; perianth funnel or bell-shaped, with six sub-equal, spreading, erect or recurved lobes; scape leafless. Leaves all radical, linear or strap-shaped. The very numerous varieties that have originated from H. orientalis and H. o. provincialis, are esteemed some of the most popular and beautiful of spring-flowering plants for indoor and outdoor decoration. By forcing, and careful management in keeping a succession, Hyacinths may be had in flower nearly all the winter, and up till the end of May. Nearly all the supplies of new bulbs for this and several other countries are obtained from Holland. The soil there is sandy, and specially adapted, with the climate, to the cultivation of any quantity of bulbs. Propagation is effected by seeds for obtaining new varieties, and by offsets for perpetuating named or distinct kinds. Seeds are seldom sown in this country, as most of the new varieties are raised on the Continent. If required, they may be sown in light sandy soil, about September, covered with 1/2in. of similar soil, and protected throughout the winter. It usually takes from four to six years before they reach the flowering stage. Offsets should be removed soon after the old bulbs are taken up, and be planted out, about 2in. deep, in light soil. They generally flower the third year. For increasing a number of offsets of scarce varieties, the Dutch growers make one or two cross cuts half-way through healthy old bulbs, after taking them up. The following year, only a little growth is made above ground, but a quantity of young bulbs are formed beneath, which are afterwards separated, and planted in nursery beds. As the advantages possessed by the Dutch, in raising varieties and growing bulbs, are far superior to anything attainable in this country, nearly the whole of the trade is left to them, and the produce annually exported in immense quantities. Hyacinths should be grown in pots for forcing and for exhibition; the single varieties succeed well in glasses of water, and are ornamental thus treated for room decoration. For a spring display in the open ground, Hyacinths are unexcelled, especially when arranged in flower beds, or anywhere in a mass.

The Roman Hyacinth. The early Roman Hyacinth is an extremely useful variety, with pure white flowers that may be had by November, as the bulbs arrive much earlier than those of the large-flowering sorts. Place three or four in a 5in. pot, just covering them with soil; afterwards water, and cover the whole up outside with about 6in. of ashes. When the pots become filled with roots, they should be taken into heat, and growth in the tops encouraged by frequent syringings. Some growers of this variety on a large scale, force the bulbs in boxes, and pot up just before coming into flower. This root disturbance does not injure the flowers much, when they are nearly fully developed; and the bulbs, so severely forced, are not of much further use. It is well to keep a portion of the stock for potting, along with the large-flowering sorts, as the early Roman is always much appreciated, and is far more useful for cutting, and for any decoration in winter.

Culture in Pots. Hyacinth bulbs should be secured as soon as possible after they arrive in autumn. The large-flowered varieties, which usually come over in September, should be potted singly in 5in. or 6in. pots, according to the size of bulb, and be covered with ashes in the same way as described above for the early Roman. The chief use of ashes is to keep the bulbs from rising when their new roots come in contact with the soil. A good potting compost is fibry loam and manure in about equal parts, with some river sand intermixed. The pots should be filled lightly, and the bulb pressed into the soil, so that its base is firmly fixed. This plan is much better than partially filling the pot and afterwards covering the bulb. Before subjecting any plants to heat, they should be well rooted, and the crowns just beginning to expand. The large-flowered varieties may be had in flower by the end of December, if they are potted early and carefully forced. Where a succession is the principal aim, rather than a large quantity at one time, it is best to divide the number of bulbs, and pot at intervals of about six weeks from August till the end of November. In winter, forcing should be conducted in a structure where all possible light is admitted; but, later in spring, any warm house will do, if not kept too much shaded. In March and April, the principal stock should be retarded, by placing them in a house or pit with a north aspect. Plenty of water should always be applied, and manure water is beneficial after the flower-spikes appear.

Culture in Glasses. Single varieties of Hyacinths are better adapted for culture in glasses than double ones. Special glasses are made, so that the bulb need not become submerged in the water. Soft rain-water should be should be used for filling them, a little charcoal placed in it, and some of the best bulbs selected. They should be inserted in moss, so that the base is just in contact with the water, and be then kept in a cool, dark place, until roots are emitted. A little additional water occasionally, and a light position, will be all they afterwards require until flowering. Outside Culture. Hyacinths grown in the open ground need not be so large or choice as those cultivated under glass. They succeed best in light soil and in a sunny position. If the latter has been occupied by other plants throughout the summer, some manure should be added, and the soil well dug, before planting in October. For securing a display in flower beds in spring, the bulbs should be inserted about 9in. apart and 3in. deep, care being taken to place them all at an equal depth. They should be protected, if the weather is severe, especially after the flower-shoots appear. If a covering of new cocoa-nut fibre is placed all over the bed before any of the flowers expand, it tends to heighten the effect they produce, and preserves them from being splashed by heavy storms. The bulbs, if left alone to ripen, or if lifted and dried slowly, may be used another year; but they generally deteriorate, and are not so good as others fresh imported. Any that are forced in pots are of little use afterwards, except for planting in mixed or shrubbery borders outside. Neat stakes are requisite for many varieties, to prevent the flowers being broken off by their own weight. The quality of Hyacinth bulbs for any purpose is a matter of material importance. Mere size is no criterion of quality, soundness and density being the chief points. If the bulbs are hard and heavy, in proportion to their size, the production of good flowers may be confidently expected.

H. amethystinus (amethystine-blue).* Spanish Hyacinth. fl. bright blue, drooping, unilateral or nearly so; spikes loose, four to twelve-flowered; bracts length of the pedicels. Spring. l. narrow, linear, as long as, or longer than, the flower-scape. h. 4in. to 12in. South Europe, 1759. (B. M. 2425.) H. candicans (white). A synonym of Galtonia candicans. H. corymbosus (corymbose).* fl., perianth lilac-rose, 1/2in. long; segments erecto-patent; racemes clustered, four to nine-flowered; pedicels erecto-patent; scape 2in. to 3in. long. Autumn. l. five or six, fleshy-herbaceous, semi-terete, 2in. to 4in. long, one line broad, pale green. Cape of Good Hope, 1793. (A. B. R. 345.) SYN. Massonia corymbosa (B. M. 991). H. orientalis (Eastern).* Common Hyacinth. fl. fragrant, varying very much, clustered. Spring. l. lanceolate, grooved, dark green. h. 8in. to 12in. Syria, &c., 1596. (B. M. 937.) From this and its sub-species, H. o. provincialis, the various-coloured, full-spiked, single and double varieties of the garden Hyacinth have been produced.

H. o. albulus (small white).* This is the Roman Hyacinth of the bulb merchants, and is the most useful for very early forcing. It is of slender habit, with erect leaves, small racemes of white flowers with oblong segments, and the tube scarcely ventricose. Southern France.

H. o. provincialis (Provence) is a sub-species with more slender, green-channelled leaves, and slightly smaller, fewer-flowered racemes. South France, Switzerland, Italy.

H. romanus (Roman). fl. scentless; perianth white or pale blue; segments lanceolate, sub-acute; raceme twenty to thirty-flowered, 2in. to 3in. long and 1in. to 2in. broad when fully expanded; scape 6in. to 12in. long. May. l. four or five, erectopatent, green, glabrous, fleshy-herbaceous, 1ft. to 1 1/2ft. long, 1/2in. broad. Greece, Rome, &c. (B. M. 939, under name of Scilla romana.) The Roman Hyacinth of bulb-growers is H. orientalis albulus (which see).

H. spicatus (spicate). fl. six to twelve, densely sub-spicate; perianth bluish, obscure; segments erecto-patent, lanceolate; scape 1in. to 3in. long. February. l. six to eight, linear, fleshy-herbaceous, 3in. to 6in. long, 4in. broad, narrow at base. Greece, Crete, &c., 1826. (B. R. 1869.) VARIETIES. These are extremely numerous, and are represented in pure white and in many shades of colour. The single-flowered varieties are most ornamental, and are cultivated much more largely than the double forms. Some of the latter are, however, very attractive, and produce large spikes, closely packed with small rosettelike flowers, which are useful for wiring singly for buttonholes. The following list includes a selection of the best varieties in general cultivation. Variously-coloured varieties are sold in mixtures, unnamed, at a cheaper rate than named ones, and are very useful for growing in flower borders.