Propagating hyacinth

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Propagating Hyacinth Bulbs

From the small offsets four to six years are required to produce marketable bulbs. The hyacinths is not grown in the same soil oftener than once every four years. In Holland, where the finest bulbs the world produces are raised, the soil is carefully prepared, fine and light, entirely free from stone, gravel and stiff soil. The only manure used is from the cow stable, unmixed with straw or anything else. During winter the ground is dug two or three feet deep, and in March it is covered with three inches of cow manure, afterwards spaded in a foot deep. Vegetables or flowers which do not exhaust the soil are grown on it during the summer.

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In October, the soil is dug two feet deep. It is now divided into beds about 5 feet in width, which are carefully raked over and made into rows a foot apart and therein the bulbs are planted about six inches apart, being covered about four inches. Smaller, or not fully grown bulbs, are planted closer together and not covered so deeply. The beds are raked and kept clear of weeds, and about December 1st, or before winter appears, they are covered with the reeds which grow numerously along the canals in that country.

First there is a layer of old reeds which were used the year before, and then a layer of new reeds to the depth of several inches, the whole being fastened down by pegs. Early in March, when danger from frost is past, the covering is removed and the beds arc cleaned and then raked. They are now given a watering of cow dung and water. The beds are kept free from weeds, and in April when blooming takes place, the flowers are examined and impurities removed.- The flowers are then cut off, so as to throw the whole vigor of the plant into the bulb. These cut blossoms are removed from the beds, as they are unsuitable for fertilizer and would cause rot in the bulbs.

In July harvesting takes place. The leaves are cut off, a shuffle-hoe being used for the purpose, and the bulbs are removed with the hands. They are next placed in trenches and covered with earth, in which they are allowed to remain from one to three weeks to ripen. They are then spread thinly in storehouses to dry. Finally, the tops are cut off closely to the bulb and the bulbs are cleaned and sorted.

Overgrown or unshapely bulbs are used for propagating. These are selected as soon as the bulbs are taken out of the ground. Three deep cross-cuts are made with a sharp knife in the bottom of each bulb. They are planted out, bottom upwards, and covered with loose soil. In two or three weeks the cuts open out and are healed up. The bulbs are then taken up and spread out in storehouses till October. They are now planted out, and when taken up the following summer some 20 to 30 offsets will be produced on what remains of the parent-bulb. These bulblets are picked off and, after being given a rest, are planted out separately in the autumn after the manner for large bulbs. This process of taking up in July and giving a rest till planting time in October, is repeated for four or five years till the bulbs have reached a commercial size, which is 8 to 10 inches in circumference. Propagating is also done by selecting strong, healthy bulbs, and hollowing out the bottom of the bulb, clearing away the center to a point, and leaving a narrow rim. This will produce more offsets, but they will be smaller and take a year or two longer to attain marketable size.

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