  The hyacinth is a native of the East. When it was introduced into England, in 1596, only four varieties of it were known, but the Dutch gardeners soon made wonderful progress in its culture, and, along toward the end of the sixteenth century, had produced at least two thousand varieties. This plant is well adapted for house decoration in winter, when flowers are rare. Its culture requires but little care. When the bulbs have taken root in a dark place they are gradually brought into the light, and placed where the temperature is moderate. Is a regular changing of the water favorable to the development of this plant? Many florists doubt it, and it is often recommended not to change the water, but only to replace that which has been lost through evaporation. Others are of a contrary opinion, and assert that the less favorable results that are obtained when the water is changed are merely due the fact that the roots are injured when the plant is taken out of the glass. With the old style of glasses it has always been difficult to renew the water regularly and keep the glass clean, but this inconvenience has disappeared in the glasses invented by Mr. J. C. Schmidt, of Erfurth. Fig. 1 represents one of these glasses, and Fig. 2 shows the details. As may be seen, the tube, a, which contains the bulb, may be removed from the glass, b, without the plant being touched or its roots disturbed. The glass, b, may thus be easily cleaned and filled with fresh water as often as necessary.—Science et Nature. |
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