AFRICA'S- AND BELLADONNA LILIES. 109 



verandah, on a large stage, to flank steps to a house, on 

 a parapet, or in any similar position, provided it be shel- 

 tered, they look handsome, and retain their beauty a 

 long time. The roots should be re-potted the beginning 

 of spring, in rich loam, with leaf-mould, or rotted 

 manure. Place them in a greenhouse, when they begin 

 to grow freely give them plenty of water, and turn them 

 out of doors in May, in a sheltered spot, with pans of 

 water under the pots. If they are kept to flower in- 

 doors, let them have plenty of air. When the flowering 

 is over withhold the watering to a great extent, to get 

 the earth in the pots pretty dry, and take them in as 

 soon as there is danger of frost. They should be kept 

 very dry until they show signs of vegetating. The 

 African lily forces easily with bottom heat and plenty of 

 water, but the flowers will be pale in colour. For in- 

 crease separate the roots while they are in a dormant 

 state. In the Channel Islands they live out of doors. I 

 have never known them tried in the open ground in 

 England, but from their hardiness I do not see why 

 they should not do, in a warm situation, if protected 

 during the dormant stage from wet and frost. 



The Belladonna Lily, Amaryllis belladonna, has the 

 fault of sending up its stem of beautiful, bright rose- 

 coloured, lily-like flowers, without leaves, like sunshine 

 without shade, and similar anomalies, sometimes, but 

 not often, found in nature. The situation for them must 

 be well drained and sheltered ; they will do out of doors 

 only in warm situations, and they must be taken in for 

 the winter. They are from the Cape of Good Hope, 

 and flower late in summer or in autumn. The rule to 

 be observed with all bulbs, to give them a season for 

 growth and a season of rest, must be especially kept to 

 with belladonnas : give them plenty of water, heat, and 

 all encouragement at command, when they are coming 

 into flower, and starve them in those items when the 

 flower is past, until they are in a state of rest, i.e. non- 

 growth ; then keep them in a temperature several degrees 

 above freezing, and give no water. The roots may be 

 planted in a warm border, six inches deep, not too soon 



