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CAPE BULBS. 



Soil, the same as above. A peculiarity of this species is, it 

 should never be allowed to dry off. 



During its season of rest, which is from August to 

 December, water should be sparingly given, but never 

 wholly withheld. The leaves are long, and of a dark, shin- 

 ing green, rising from the crown of the bulb and drooping 

 slightly at the end. The flowers are two in number, pro- 

 duced on a stout stalk, which pushes from the side of the 

 bulb ; frequently strong bulbs will give two or three spikes. 

 After blooming, grow the leaves well. This bulb scarcely 

 ever fails to bloom, and the flowers continue in perfection a 

 long time. 



A. (Hippeastruni) vittata is a magnificent species, with 

 white flowers striped with bright rose. In the house, it 

 flowers from April to June. It requires a season of rest 

 just before flowering, and a soil similar to A. belladonna. 



A. (Hippeastruni) psittacina resembles A. aulica, but 

 has six or more flowers in an umbel. The treatment is the 

 same as A. vittata. 



There are many varieties of these last three, the garden 

 hybrids already numbering hundreds. All do well as parlor 

 plants. 



A. ( Vallota) purpurea requires much the same treatment 



