HYACINTHUS, HYACINTH, in botany: A genus of the monogynia order, belonging to the hexandria class of plants; and in the natural method ranking under the 10th order, Coronariae. The corolla is campanulated, and there are three melliferous pores at the top of the germin. There are six species; of which the most remarkable is the oriental, or eastern hyacinth. Of this there are a great number of varieties, amounting to some hundreds, each of which differs from the rest in some respect or other. This plant hath a large, purplish, bulbous root, sending up several narrow erect leaves eight or ten inches long; the flower stalk is upright, robust, and succulent, from 10 to 15 inches in height; adorned upward with many large funnel or bell shaped flowers, swelling at the base, and cut half way into six parts; collected into a large pyramidal spike of different colours in the varieties; flowering in April or May.
These plants are cultivated with the greatest success in Holland, from whence great numbers are annually imported into Britain. Each variety is by the florists distinguished either by the name of the place where first raised, or the person who raised them, or the names of illustrious personages, as of kings, generals, poets, and celebrated ancient historians, gods, goddesses, &c. They are sold by all the seed-dealers. The prices are from three pence per root to five or ten pounds or more; and some varieties are in such high esteem among the florists, that 20l. or 30l. will be given for a single bulb. They are hardy, and will prosper any where, though the fine kinds require a little shelter during the winter. They may be propagated either by seeds or off-sets from the roots.
The properties of a good oriental hyacinth are, a stem perfectly upright, of moderate length, and so strong and well-proportioned that it will sustain the weight of the florets without bending: the florets should be large, swelling below, expanded above, and numerous, 10 or 15 at least, but are often 20 or 30 in number; and should be placed equally round the stem, the pedicles on which they grow longer below than above, diminishing gradually in length upward in such a manner as to represent a pyramid, and each pedicle sufficiently strong to support the florets without drooping. The curious in these plants are careful never to plant the fine sorts two years together in the same bed of earth; for, by planting them every year in a fresh bed, the beauty of the flowers is greatly improved.