361 



HOKTICDLTURB 



April 13, 1918 



HIPPEASTRUM (Amaryllis). 

 ■|'he (levelopnieiil of this wfll-kiiown 

 Keiiu.s covers a coiisiiloruble period of 

 activity on the part of the enthusiast 

 and hybridist. It was well known In 

 gardens before the Linnean period, and 

 the old name Amaryllis suKgests that 

 it was named for the sweetheart of the 

 Roman poet Virgil. SUcnibcrpia hilca 

 was described by John Gerard under 

 the name \arcissus aulumnalis major. 

 Parkinson figured the same plant in 

 his "Paradlsus," as well as a red-flow- 

 ered type. Narcissus indicus, which is 

 popularly known at the present time 

 as Amartillis formosissima, native of 

 Mexico and Guatemala. It was prob- 

 ably introduced into Spain previou.s to 

 1693. 



In 1822 Dean Herbert published 

 "The Production of Hybrid Vegetables" 

 in the Transactions of the Royal Horti- 

 cultural Society. Under this somewhat 

 eccentric title he devised a complete 

 systematic classification of the known 

 species of Amaryllis. The greater part 

 of Herbert's life was devoted to the 

 classification of the order and the cul- 

 tivation of all the known amaryllls, 

 numerous hybrids being raised. In a 

 subsequent treatise the genus was sep- 

 arated, probably through the sugges- 

 tions of Linnaeus, into Hippeastrum 

 and Amaryllis, Aviarj/Uis Belladonna, 

 Indigenous to the Cape of Good Hope, 

 being the only remaining representa- 

 tive, while the western group embraced 

 many species. The separation was not 

 entirely geographical, however, but 

 founded on minute botanical charact- 

 ers. Up to this period tlie genus had 

 been named successively Narcissus, 

 Lillo Narcissus, and Amaryllis, which, 

 however, are readily differentiated. 

 The liliums have a leafy stem without 

 spathes. while the amaryllis produce 

 naked flower stems with buds inclosed 

 In spathes. 



IVIany Species 



There are upwards of 70 described 

 species of Hippeastrum, a number of 

 which have been used in the produc- 

 tion of the thousands of variable pres- 

 ent-day hybrids. The most prominent 

 species, Hippeastrum Reoinae. a native 

 of South America, was introduced and 

 flowered by Fairchild of Hoxton, Eng- 

 land, in 1728, under the name Lilium 

 Reginae. It was figured in the Botan- 

 ical Magazine, 1799, the flower being a 

 short funnel-form variety, crimson in 

 color. Hippeastrum vittatum, native 

 of Peru, was imported into Europe in 

 1769, having white fiowers prominently 

 overlaid with red stripes, with a white 

 keel. Hippeastrum reliculatum, native 

 of Brazil, was introduced into England 

 by Dr. Gray, in 1777, and was de- 

 scribed in tlie Botanical Magazine, in 

 1803. The flowers of this species are 

 mauve or purple-red. with cross lines 

 and bars of crimson. Hippeastrum, 

 eguestre. of tropical America, dates 

 back to 1698, and is probably one of 

 the earliest parents used in breeding. 

 Its flowers are bright rod with green 

 at the base. Other imported species 

 used are Hippeastrum aulieum. intro- 

 duced from Brazil in 1819, H. psittaci- 

 nuvi, introduced from Brazil in 1820, 

 H. solandriflorum from Brazil, H. 

 pardinum from Peru, and //. Leopoldii. 



II. Jiiliiisiiiiii, the first recorded hybrid, 

 was rnised, in 1799, by an Kngllsli 

 watchnuiker named Johnson, who 

 crossed //. Un.iinar and //. vittatum. 



Cultivation. 



The development of Hippeastrum 

 hybrids was taken up commercially by 

 Veltch & Sons, of Chelsea, Kngland, 

 about 187(1, resulting In a more open, 

 regular flower. Large groups of these 

 hybrids were exhibited at the annual 

 shows of the Royal Horticultural So- 

 ciety of I>ondon. The work of im- 

 provement was later taken up by the 

 Belgians. Dutch, and Germans. .At the 

 present time thousands of hybrids are 

 raised annually in this country. 



There are two methods by which 

 hip|)eastrums may be cultivated, (1) 

 l)lanting outside for the summer 

 months, and (2) greenliouse or pot cul- 

 ture. The first method involves 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 es- 

 sential. 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 i)eriod. One 

 objection to this method is the unavoid- 

 able breaking of the numerous thick, 

 fleshy roots, which occurs in the proc- 

 ess of lifting and potting, at the ex- 

 pense of the future flowers. It is ad- 

 vocated, however, for the increase of 

 stock, through the agency of side 

 growtlis which are produced more 

 freely outside. Greenhouse or pot cul- 

 ture is without doubt more satisfactory 

 when tlie production of perfect flowers 

 Is the object. The plants should be 

 transplanted before the starting peri- 

 od, usually January, or top dressed, 

 depending upon their condition. A 

 good heavy soil should be selected, 

 adding leaf mold and sand in propor- 

 tion, and enriching it by applying bone 

 meal or cow manure. Water should be 

 given sparingly until the plants are 

 well rooted. It is not necessary to 

 transplant annually, but top dressing 

 in alternate years, combined with feed- 

 ing with liquid cow manure and soot- 

 water, is desirable. After growth is 

 completed, usually by the end of Octo- 

 ber, the water should be withheld grad- 

 ually, and the temperature reduced 

 from 60 to 45° F. for the resting 

 period. 



Mealy bug and thrips are the two 

 chief insect pests, the former inhabit- 

 ing the under side of the scales, the 

 latter puncturing the epidermis of the 

 succulent leaves. The mealy bug 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 with- 

 in 4 years. Seeds should be sown im- 

 mediately 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 elim- 

 inate early transplanting. If properly 

 grown, bulbs 1 inch in diameter may 

 easily be obtained by the end of the 

 first year, when they should be trans- 

 planted into 3-inch pots or set outside 

 during the summer for further devel- 

 opment. — Mo. Bot. Gard. Bulletin. 



PITTSBURGH EASTER SHOWS. 



The annual Kasler Flower Show of 

 the Phlpps Conservatory, Schenley 

 Park, observed the twonly-flflh anni- 

 versary of the Institution and. Inci- 

 dentally, the most severe and trying 

 year in lis history. The attendance 

 exceeded that of any previous year, 

 which was probably due to the Ideal 

 weather prevailing during the week. 

 The exhibits of roses and lilies have 

 never been excelled, the Victoria 

 House in Schenley Park, with Its 

 Easter lilies surrounding a center of 

 Crimson Ramblers, l)eing especially 

 noteworthy. Through the agency of 

 Mr. Burke, the "Kalserskroon" and 

 "Prince of Austria" tulips have reap- 

 peared this year respectively as "Field 

 Marshal Haig" and "General Persh- 

 ing." Foreman Jones says, "We might 

 have been mobbed had we let them go 

 by their old names." 



.\ hyacinth representation of crossed 

 American flags is one of the many at- 

 tractions arranged by Superintendent 

 A. A. Leach for the private Greenlawn 

 conservatories, where the annual show 

 always rivals those of its municipal 

 neighbors. The chief ensemble of the 

 exhibition is in the show room in 

 sunken garden effect. 



THE VOLUNTEER. 



Ivi' buriiod my bridges, I've done tlie deed 



.\iid liamliMl In my name 



Ivp Joined the V. S. Naval Reserve 



To play In tlie great war game. 



Yea. I'm tired of being a "stay-at-home," 



.\nd all that tlie term may be, 



If there's room "on the sbtps" for all my 



pals. 

 Then there la room "on the Bhlps" for me. 



To how many pals did I say good-bye, 



As tliey swung through town to the boat, 



Only to turn away with a tear 



And a sob that tore my throat. 



Some of them now are guarding our coast. 



And some are over the sea, 



Kach of them answered his name In turn, 



So I thought It was up to me. 



I said "Not yet, — Don't be In haste, 



There is time enough for me," 



So I harked to the call of a softer voice. 



Than the roar of the deep blue sea. 



But I'm breaking the bonds that bind me 



here 

 Whatever those bonds may be. 

 If they need ten thousand seamen, 

 Then they surely must need me. 



Perhaps 'twas the sound of the bugle note, 

 That called from the old town hall, 

 Perhap."! 'twas the sentence that blazoned 



forth. 

 In the writing on the wall. 

 But whether the blare of the bugle, 

 Or the poster's passioned plea, 

 I suddenly woke to the salient fact. 

 That their message was meant for me. 



So I walked In where the open gate 



Seems to beckon to half the town, 



I walked in Thomas Brown, Ksquire, 



But I walked out Seaman Brown. 



The Ensign was counting one hundred aDd 



one, 

 One hundred and two, and three, 

 "You mav make it one hundred and four," 



said I. 

 .\nd one hundred and four was me. 



So I've burned my bridges, I've done the 



deed. 

 And handed In my nanie, 

 I'm down on America's team to play 

 In liberty's great war game. 

 I'll don the sailor's clothes of blue 

 To fight In the fight of the free, 

 And I thank my God that the call that 



came 

 Found an answering voice In me. 



John J. Murpht. 

 With apologies to the author of "The 

 New Recruit." 



