6 ON THE CULTURE OF THE AMARYLLIS FORMOSISS1MA. 



that it was at first planted in, viz. — equal parts of loam , peat, and 

 decomposed manure ; but now made fine and very tightly pressed 

 in the interstice. It scarcely drooped its leaves, but the branches 

 immediately ceased to elongate, and small shoots were thrown out at 

 the extremities ; these produced a great munber of blossom buds, 

 many of which expanded to more than six inches diameter, and 

 although we have experienced so great a want of solar heat, that this 

 splendid plaut has now only a few languid flowers and some unex- 

 panded buds, these with its yet bold foliage command the admiration 

 of all who see it. 



I purpose trying this system on B. Lutea and Sanguinea next 

 season, and if any thing worth further communication results I will 

 acquaint you therewith. 



27th November, 1839. 



[We shall feel grateful for it, but hope for other communications 

 before that time. — Conductor.] 



ARTICLE V. 



ON THE CULTURE OF THE AMARYLLIS FORMOSISSIMA. 



BY C. H. S., A SECOND GARDENER. 



I presume it may seem, to practical men, quite unimportant to write 

 upon a plant that has now become so universally known ; but, how- 

 ever, I would just beg leave to suggest, that whenever this plant has ' 

 come under my notice, it has generally been stoved up in a hothouse 

 from one year's end to another, without any success of flowering. 



I will now just try to elucidate the way in which we succeeded in 

 blooming them this year, in as brief a way as I can. About the 

 middle of last February the bulbs were potted and well drained in 

 suitable sized pots, and in a compost of equal parts of red loam and 

 vegetable mould ; after which, the pots were placed in a forcing 

 vinery (as usual), there kept at about seventy degrees by fire heat: 

 the plants grew luxuriantly, as usual, without showing the least ap- 

 pearance of flowering. About the middle of March, the gardener 

 ordered them to be turned out of the hothouse ; I took them and 

 thrust them under the greenhouse stage, taking no more notice of 

 them for, perhaps, ten days. Having, however, occasion to water 



