32 MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN BULLETIN 
"raised annually in California by Burbank, and in Florida by 
Nehrling. 
There are two methods by which hippeastrums may be 
cultivated, (1) planting outside for the summer months, 
and (2) greenhouse or pot culture. The first method in- 
volves the planting out of bulbs in rows, during the month 
of May, in a well-drained border and top dressing with cow 
manure. During summer plenty of water and destruction 
of weeds are essential. In October the bulbs should be lifted 
and either potted, or stored in the bulb house and potted 
two or three weeks before the starting period. One objec- 
tion to this method is the unavoidable breaking of the num- 
-erous thick, fleshy roots, which occurs in the process of lift- 
ing and potting, at the expense of the future flowers. It is 
advocated, however, for the increase of stock, through the 
agency of side growths which are produced more freely out- 
side. Greenhouse or pot culture is without doubt more satis- 
factory when the production of perfect flowers is the ob- 
ject. The plants should be transplanted before the starting 
period, usually January, or top dressed, depending upon their 
condition. A good heavy soil should be selected, adding 
leaf mold and sand in proportion, and enriching it by 
applying bone meal or cow manure. Water should be given 
sparingly until the plants are well rooted. It is not neces- 
sary to transplant annually, but top dressing in alternate 
years, combined with feeding with liquid cow manure and 
soot-water, is desirable. After growth is completed, usuall 
by the end of October, the water should be withheld ‘a 
ually, and the temperature reduced from 60 to 45° F. for 
the resting period. 
Mealy nae ee thrips are the two chief insect pests, the 
former inhabiting the under side of the scales, the latter 
puncturing the epidermis of the succulent leaves. The 
mealy iy may be kept under control by forcible spraying, 
or, when badly infested, by brushing the bulbs with 50 per 
cent alcohol. Nicotine solution will control thrips. 
Hippeastrums are easily raised from seeds, producing 
flowering bulbs within 4 years. Seeds should be sown 
immediately after ripening, as they soon lose their vitality. 
The best method is to sow in sandy soil in flats, placing the 
seeds about 2 inches apart to eliminate early transplant- 
ing. If properly wn, bulbs 1 inch in pede ss may 
easily be obtained by the end of the first year, when they 
should be transplanted into 3-inch pots or set outside dur- 
ing the summer for further development. 
