ALSTRCSMERIA VAN IIOTTTTEII. 35 



the same plants leaves composed of segments, varying from three to six in 

 number ; a few of the species have .even pinnate leaves. 



The Potentilla jjlenziesii may now be procured for an extremely moderate sum ; 

 a circumstance, we imagine, which will not fail to procure it many admirers. 



ALSTRCEMERIA VAN HOUTTEII. 



Van Houtte's Alstrcemeria. 

 Linnean Class — Hex.vndkia. Order — Monogynia. Natural Order — Amaryllidacejj. 



The beauty of the flowers of the genus Alstrcemeria renders them eminently worthy 

 of a place among our illustrations, and we do not know that we can select, for our 

 first example of this family, a more interesting species than that bearing the name 

 of the well-known florist of Ghent. 



A few of the Alstrcemerias are ralhor tender, and can only be successfully 

 cultivated in the stove; such are A. salsilla, A. edulis, and A. hcemantha; a few 

 others, which may be flowered in the open air, require, nevertheless, to be protected 

 in the greenhouse during winter ; but a large proportion of them, including the 

 present species, or variety, as we suppose it must be termed, are either quite hardy, 

 or, at most, need only a covering of leaves or straw in severe weather. 



The Alstrcemeria Yan Houtteii appears to be a hybrid, and, although we have no 

 exact information on the subject, we imagine it is the result of a cross between A. 

 psittacina and some one of the dwarfer species. 



It is of the easiest cultivation, requiring only to be planted in moderately rich 

 soil, of a sandy texture, where it will flourish for years with but little attention. 

 It grows about two feet high, and the roots will, when two or three years old, 

 produce several stems, each terminated by an umbel of from eight to twelve 

 blossoms, which expand in July and August. 



The plant will not succeed in stiff loam, and, therefore, when the soil of the 

 borders is of this character, an artificial compost must be prepared of sandy loam, 

 rotten manure, and leaf-mould or peat. It will be advisable to plant the roots at a 

 depth of not less than four or six inches, they will then be not only less liable to 

 injury from severe frost, but will also suffer less from drought in summer. In dry 

 weather, during their growth, they will require a frequent supply of water, and 



