AMARYLLIDE.^. 2/7 



many of the species are not hardy. Most of them are apt to 

 suffer fatally in wet spongy soils ; but in dry, well-drained sandy 

 loam they resist the cold of our winters very successfully. They 

 are best adapted for growing in dry soils of a sandy nature : in 

 strong heavy loams and clays, even if they live, they rarely flower 

 well, but produce instead of flowering-stems a preponderance of 

 weak barren ones ; and in such soils also they are much more 

 apt to spread beyond due limits — a tendency which they have 

 in greater or less degree in all soils. The only practical correc- 

 tive to this tendency is to plant the roots in a large pot, well 

 drained, and sink the pot in the border with the rim about 3 

 inches under the surface, taking care annually to lift the pot 

 and examine the contents with the object of repairing drainage 

 and adding a little fresh soil. They are exceedingly easily in- 

 creased : the fleshy roots, producing buds from nearly every part 

 of their surface, offer an abundani iieans of propagation. They 

 should be divided in autumn, where the soil is of that character 

 which has been described as m.ost congenial ; but if wet it is 

 better done in early spring; and the roots, when planted, should 

 be placed not less than 3 inches deep. Wherever it is antici- 

 pated that the combined influence of cold and wet would injure 

 them, they will be rendered safe by having a mound of coal 

 ashes or old tan raised over them. 



A. d,\xidjn.\;\di.Qdi.{0?'aJige-spotted A.) — This species grows about 

 2 feet high, with rather wiry flexible stems, clothed with lance- 

 shaped leaves, and terminating in umbels of orange-and-yellow 

 flowers, appearing in June and July. Native of Chili. 



A. Errembaultii {E?T€mbaulf s A.) — This is said to be a 

 hybrid sort, and is very distinct and beautiful as well as hardy. 

 It grows about 2 feet high, with erect stems, clothed with lance- 

 shaped leaves. The flowers are produced in few-flowered um- 

 bels, and are white spotted, with deep crimson or red and yel- 

 low. They open in autumn. 



A. hsemantha {Blood-red A.) — A more dwarf and compact 

 species than the last, growing erect, about 18 inches high, with 

 numerous stems. The leaves are narrow lance-shaped, and 

 very slightly fringed with soft hairs. The flowers, in umbels, 

 are deep purplish red and orange, and appear in August and 

 September. Native of Chili. 



A. psittacina {Pan-ot A.) — A very distinct species, growing 

 about 2 }^ or 3 feet high. The stems are erect, clothed with 

 lance-shaped sharp-pointed leaves, and terminate in consider- 

 able umbels of crimson and green flowers, which appear in 

 August, September, and October. Native of Mexico. 



Galanthus nivalis {Snowdrop), — Little need be said here 



