184 GENERAL TREATMENT OF STOVE AMARYLLIDS. 



GENERAL TREATMENT OF STOVE AMARYLLIDS. 



At a recent meeting of the Regent's Park Gardeners' Society, Mr. 

 Appleby read a paper on tlie culture of this interesting tribe of plants, 

 touching upon tlieir habitation, the soil, potting, summer and winter 

 treatment, watering, and propagation. The best situated he considered 

 to be a span-roofed low house, at an angle of 50^ running north and 

 south, with a walk down the centre, the stage to be so near the glass 

 as that the plants, when fully grown, may be eighteen inches from it. 

 The house to be devoted exclusively to them, especially in the growing 

 and flowering season. The young bulbs might be grown in pits, 

 plunged in tan, and heated by dung linings. The compost should be 

 strong yellow turfy loam, with one- fourth of leaf- mould or well-decayed 

 dung, adding a little sand ; also charcoal in a rough state, mixing tiie 

 whole without sifting. In potting the drainage must be perfect, regu- 

 lating the quantity according to the size of the bulb and pot, giving 

 the largest two inches, and the smallest tliree-quarters of an inch, of 

 draining material. The potting season is when the bulbs begin to 

 grow, which is generally about March. In repotting, gently shake off 

 the old soil, remove all dead roots, and work in the fresh soil carefully 

 without breaking a root, leave the bulb half covered, and give the pot 

 a rap or two on the bench to settle the soil ; finish with a gentle 

 watering, and they may then be started. The summer treatment may 

 commence at a heat from 55^ to 60^ by day, and from 50' to 55' by 

 night, and by the time the foliage is fully expanded the heat must be 

 from 70' to 75' by day and 63' at night ; maintaining a moist heat 

 until the bulb is nearly matured, when it must be gradually and at 

 last wholly withheld. Give air on all favourable occasions, and espe- 

 cially as the resting season approaches. If annoyed with insects, fumi- 

 gate for aphides, wash with a mixture of soap, sulphur, and tobacco- 

 water for white scale, applying it with a soft brush ; and this also kills 

 the red spider and thrips: for the mealy bug, wash with spirits of 

 wine ; and for worms, water with soot and lime-water. In the winter 

 treatment, tlie temperature must be reduced to not lower than 40', nor 

 higher than 50', and give no water. In regard to water, use none 

 until the plants begin to grow, and then at long intervals. As the 

 flower-spatlies and leaves progress it must be increased, and be sure 

 that the ball is wet through : to prove this, it is well to turn out one or 

 more, carefully, of those which appear the dryest, and be regulated by 

 their state. To induce and secure the increase of the bulb, the broad 

 and healthful foliage, and have the flowers in perfection, water when 

 the leaves are about tiieir full size, every third time with liquid 

 manure, and syringe the foliage occasionally. In regard to propaga- 

 tion, to have them from seed, artificial fertilisation is necessary, at 

 which period give a high and moist temperature, air freely, and expose 

 fully to the sun. Sow the seeds in shallow pans ; wherever it is ripe, 

 watch carefully, and see that the seedlings do not suffer from damp ; 

 when the leaves are an inch in length, pot them off three and four in a 

 pot, in a lightisli compost ; keep them in a close heat until they become 

 establislied, and every stimulant must be applied so as to have the 

 bulbs large before winter, Then they must rest, and have no -water 



