We extract from Mr. Herbert's work on the Amarylli- 

 daceous order the following observations upon the culture of 

 such plants as this. 



" I believe that the very large imported bulbs of this 

 plant and B. multiflora may be one hundred years old. As 

 they sprout but once a year, nothing can be done to accelerate 

 their growth, beyond keeping them in a healthy and vigorous 

 state : for which purpose the bulb must be kept under 

 ground, with the neck perhaps above ground ; but of that I 

 entertain great doubts. If the whole bulb is exposed, it im- 

 bibes moisture from the atmosphere in the season of rest, 

 which becomes fatal to it, and I have found the seedlings of 

 which the neck has never been raised above ground in the 

 safest state. A rich lie-lit loam and abundance of water in 



winter, perfect rest and dry heat in summer, are necessary. 



" I lost my bulb of A. grandiflora very soon, and I fear 

 all that were imported at the same time have been also lost, 

 in consequence of the dangerous practice of keeping the bulb 

 above ground." 



