8 June, 1907.] 



Garden Xoics. 



333 



GARDEN NOTES. 



/. Croiiiii, 1 uspcctor, V cgcfation Diseases Aets. 



The Nerine. 



Nerine is a genus of deciduous bulbous i)hints indigenous to South 

 Africa that bloom during the autumn months, producing umljels of 

 beautiful flowers that are borne on long stiff stems in most of the species 

 and their varieties. This genus was formerly included in Amarvllis and 

 the species described in the early botanical works were known under that 

 name. Lycoris aurea and radiaia, natives of China and Japan, were 

 formerly classed as Nerines, which they closely resemble in flower and 

 habit of growth. For gardening purposes they mav l)e still known as 

 nerines, and are considered as synonymous by some authorities. 



Nerines are undoubtedly a most beautiful class of bulbous plants, and 

 being hardy in most parts of this State should be much more largely 

 grown than thev are at present. They will thrive under practically the 



NERINE ALBA, WHITE. 



NERINE HUMILIS, PINK. 



same conditions as Amaryllis bclladoiiiia. a plant that is found to grow 

 well in most districts. Either as pot plants or to grow in the garden 

 they are worthy of a place in any garden. The bulbs are deciduous and 

 require no water during summer, a fact that makes them specially suit- 

 able subjects in localities where the supplv of water for gardening pur- 

 poses is limited. The range of colour in the flowers is fairly wide, com- 

 prising most brilliant shades of scarlet, n^e, pink, and white, and, in- 

 cluding Lycoris, golden yellow. The number of kinds procurable from 

 nurserymen and seedsmen in Victoria has been limited until lately, but 

 now many fine kinds are included in some of the catalogues, a large 

 number of them being very beautiful and unknown to the majority of 

 gardeners and amateurs. 



