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IRISH GARDENING 



Hippeastrums. 



It is many years since the first hybrid Hippeastrum 

 was raised named Johnsoni from the intercrossing 

 of vittatum and Reginae. This is reputed to 

 have been made by Mr. Johnson in L811, while 

 others say the credit is due to a Lancashire 

 watchmaker; hut the pioneer among hybrid 

 Hippeastrums is undoubtedly Dean Herbert, who 

 crossed all the species he could find, and it is said 

 that he was severely admonished for tampering 

 wilh nature. 



In 1S24 Herbert had thirty-live recorded 

 hybrids, thirty of which were his raising, and 

 since that period both Continental and British 

 nurserymen, also many private growers, such as 

 Sir < > . Holford of Westonbirt, have produced many 

 fine forms, which are truly gorgeous, and they are 

 among the most brilliant of florist flowers. 



The greatest display is usually to be seen in 

 April, but with a little arrangement (lowers can 

 be had several months earlier and later than the 

 month just mentioned: in fact Mr. Chapman. 

 gardener to Sir 1 G. Holford. has them in flower 

 eight months out of the twelve. 



The varieties now in commerce are large, and 

 the shades of red are magnificent, while the white 

 and paler forms make a pleasing contrast ; but 

 now we want a yellow, which may come by inter- 

 crossing some of the greenish-white kinds, and 

 then careful selection of the progeny ; at any rate 

 it is worth striving for. 



Cultural Remarks. — The present is a good 

 time to overhaul the collection of Hippeastrums. 

 repotting those that require it, while others that 

 were taken in hand last season, and are well 

 established, say. in 7-inch pots, will only need a 

 topdressing. This is accomplished by picking out 

 a portion of soil without removing the plant, and 

 replacing it with a similar mixture, as advised for' 

 repotting. Before commencing potting operations 

 the bulbs should be turned out of their pots, 

 taking away the soil and thoroughly cleansing 

 them from mealy bug if this pest is present, and 

 all decaying matter, such as dead roots, scales, &c. 



A suitable compost consists of three parts good 

 fibrous loam to one part leaf-mould, and to every 

 bushel of the mixture add a six-inch potful of 

 bone-meal, while a sprinkling of silver sand will 

 be beneficial. They require somewhat linn 

 potting, and the soil must be worked well bet ween 



the roots, while the bulbs ought to be kept about 



two-thirds above the surface. 



Overpotting must be avoided, and as a general 

 rule fully grown bulbs will need receptacles six 

 and seven inches in diameter'. The repotting and 

 topdressing should be done just as growth begins, 

 and alter this operation is finished plunge the 

 pots to the rim in old tan. fibre, or leal-mould. 

 where a little bottom heat can be obtained, and 

 an average temperature of 65 Fahr. maintained. 

 If the sun is strong ;i thin shading will be neces- 

 sary, and water will only be required in small 

 (plant it ies till the leaves begin to grow and the 

 flower scapes appear. When in flower the plants 

 may be removed to the greenhouse, where the 

 atmosphere is dry. and if the blooms are protected 

 from the sun's raj s t heir beaut y will be prolonged. 



Directly the flowers have laded the plants 

 must be taken back to their- growing quarters 

 viz.. the plunge bed. and as root action becomes 

 more vigorous, additional water may be applied. 

 The growing season for a general batch is from 

 March to September, and during this period the 

 syringe may be used in bright weather, and 



plenty of air admitted both from top and bottom 

 ventilators, whenever the elements are favourable. 



When the foliage shows signs of decay. 

 gradually withhold water at the base, and after' 

 being thoroughly ripened, give the bulbs a rest 

 in their pots in a temperature of 15 Fahr., 

 where they remain till wanted. As already 

 stated the flowering season can be considerably 

 prolonged, but for the early supplies well estab- 

 lished specimens should be selected, and those 

 that do not want repotting. A top-dressing, 

 however, is advised, and before this is done give 

 them a good soaking of water'. 



Propagation is effected by offsets and seed. 

 the former to increase a choice variety, and the 

 latter to secure new kinds : but where seedlings 

 are raised only the best variel ies should be crossed, 

 bearing in mind the colour, size and shape. 

 Offsets are removed at the time of repotting, 

 and treated in a similar way to older bulbs. 

 Seed should be sown as soon as ripe in ordinary 

 pots or pans, and placed in a temperature of 

 ti") Fahr.. keeping the pans shaded from strong 

 sunlight. When targe enough to handle they 

 may be potted off and kept growing the first 

 year. Seedlings thus treated soon reach the 

 flowering stage, and it will prove a most interest- 

 ing time in watching them open. 



Thrip and red spider are seen occasionally, but 

 in these days they can easily be kept in check.— 

 Southerner. 



Hints to Amateurs. 



By R. M. Pollock. 



ANNUALS.— The term "•annual" means a plant 

 which during one year completes its entire life 

 history ; in other words, it germinates, flowers, 



produces seed and dies all within a year. They 

 are invaluable to the amateur, and they well 

 repay a little care and attention, both before and 

 after sowing. An article on this class of plant 

 appeared in last month's issue, which is worth 

 reading. Ground that has been unoccupied 

 during 1 he winter, and which was dug in (he 

 autumn, does splendidly for' annuals : failing this 

 dig deeply and thoroughly spaces where a sowing 

 can be made, and mix with the soil some good 

 well decayed cow manure, smooth the surface 

 over so as not to leave any large lumps, and on 

 I his sow the seed. It is quit e d ifficull to sow too 

 thinly, but it is a very easy mistake to sow too 

 thickly, and the latter is detrimental to good 

 results. [t 'may be taken as a safe guide to say 

 that the smaller the seed the less covering 



required, and this covering should be of fine soil, 

 the ordinary soil sifted through a sieve will do. 

 It must be fine for the young tender shoot to push 



its way up. Sn th this over, but be careful 



not to make it into a cake. When actually 



SOWUlg, it is well to take some of the seed out of 



the packet and put it in a piece of paper that has 

 a crease down the centre, and scatter il over' the 

 prepared surface. This ensures no more sei'd 

 being sown than was in the piece of paper. The 

 following are a few good annuals that can be 

 safely sown in the open ground during this 

 month: Cornflowers, Centaurea Cyanus, blue 

 or mixed. 2>\ to :; feet high. Alyssum maritimum 

 compactum, " Little Dorrit," white, 1 to 6 

 inches. Bartonia aurea, yellow. 12 to is inches : 

 rather spreading, and does best in bright sun. 

 Brachycome iberidifolia, the Swan River Daisy. 

 blue and white, 12 inches. ClarkiaV elegans, 

 double, in several shades of pink and red, 2 feet. 



