1878.1 



AND HORTICULTURIST. 



361 



growing finely in a cool greenhouse, where they 

 get plent}' of light and air. In this situation 

 they will remain during the Winter, and towards 

 Spring we hope to see them in flower, and in due 

 time studded with their elegant amber-colored 

 berries. 



AMARYLLIDACE/E. 



BY W. C. L. DREW, ELDORADO, CAL. 



There are no more popular plants with the 

 florist or amateur than the very extensive and 

 numerous family of Amaryllids. All the varie- 

 ties of the genera are plants of royal bloom, and 

 unsurpassable richness. It is a singular fact that 

 all known varieties are worthy of cultivation 

 in any collection, however choice. 



By new mtroductions, and new hybrids, as the 

 result of foreign skill, the now large list is being 

 constantly increased and improved. The finest 

 of the introductions are those from the tropics, 

 but the genera is represented by beautiful speci- 

 mens in all parts of the known world. Some 

 of the Amaryllids require stove culture, others 

 succeed best in the greenhouse, while many 

 varieties make fine border plants. 



The order Amaryllidacese, as now constituted, 

 comprises Amaryllis proper, Brunsvigia, Bu- 

 phone. Agave, Crinum, Clidanthus, Coburgia, 

 Clivia, Cyrtanthus, Habranthus, Galanthus, 

 Lycoris, Gastronema, Doryanthes,Hippeastrum, 

 Pancratium, i^erine, Phycella, Sternbergia, Py- 

 rolix'ion,Haylockia,Sprekelia,Zephranthes,Stru- 

 maria, Vallota, Imatophyllum, Ixilirion, Leu- 

 cojum and Narcissus. 



In this article I will merely give a passing 

 notice to the hothouse varieties, desiring to 

 speak more prominently of Summer bloom- 

 ing and border varieties. 



Those varieties which require hot-house cul- 

 ture, should be removed from the pots, and the 

 bulbs placed in a warm place on the shelf until 

 they show signs of growth in the Spring. The 

 pots for these varieties should be well drained 

 and filled with a compost of equal portions of 

 peat, clean sand and rich, turfy loam. After the 

 bulbs are planted and made a fair growth in the 

 Spring, they should be well supplied with water 

 as they grow. 



The greenhouse species must also be removed 

 from the pots in the Fall and dried, in the Spring. 

 Pot in the same way as for hothouse species. 

 In potting Amaryllids, the neck of the bulb for 

 one-half inch or more should be left above the 



surface of the soil, otherwise they will fail to 

 flower. 



The Hippeastrum constitute by far the larger 

 section of the stove species. The original intro- 

 ductions were from South America and the Cape. 

 The hybrid varieties constitute by far the greater 

 part in cultivation now, the original introduc- 

 tions being very scarce. 



The various superb Crinum, Agave, Clivia, 

 and Coburgia are also hothouse species. Of 

 those thriving best in the greenhouse we would 

 mention the Imantophyllum, Brunsvigia, Hay- 

 lockia, Pentlandia and Pancratium. 



It will be observed that several of the genera 

 are classed among Holland bulbs by dealers, as 

 the Galanthus or Snowdrop, Leucojum or Snow- 

 flake, and Narcissus, in their several varieties. 



We will now consider those varieties which 

 are known as Summer blooming Amaryllis. 

 Many who are familiar with the regal Ama- 

 ryllis family, suppose they are too tender to 

 be successfully grown by any but experienced 

 florists ; this is a false idea, as a number of the 

 species do not require half the care devoted by 

 enthusiastic amateurs on much less worthy sub- 

 jects. Those of peculiar merit for Summer flow- 

 ering, are the Yallota, Amaryllis formosissima, 

 Belladona, Johnsonii, Longiflora, Vittata and the 

 Zephranthes. 



Vallota purpurea is a late Summer or Autumn 

 bloomer, with very rich, handsome flowers ; un- 

 like others of the Amaryllidacese, the bulbs must 

 never be sufi'ered to dry off. It requires to be 

 kept growing Winter and summer, and watei'ed 

 at all seasons. The flowers, which are produced 

 freely from August to October, are of a very 

 brilliant scarlet with a velvety lustre, and last 

 for many days in perfection. When the ground 

 becomes warm in the Spring, transplant the 

 bulb into a bed of rich, light loam; in the Fall, 

 before frost, take it up carefully and pot, when 

 it must be removed to the house, where, if kept 

 rather warm and well watered it will frequently 

 bloom again during the Winter. Treated in this 

 way a good bulb will flower several times during 

 the year. 



Amaryllis formosissima is one of the most 

 beautiful in cultivation ; it is frequently sold as 

 Jacobea Lily, and known according to some bo- 

 tanical authorities as Sprekelia formossisima. It 

 is ver}' hardy and of easy culture. It must be 

 planted in the open border as soon as the ground 

 becomes warm in the Spring, succeeding best in a 

 rich, sandy soil. As soon as cold weather appears, 



