350 THE PLEASURE, OR [APIUL. 



Scarlet Amaryllis. 



The Amaryllis formosissima, Scarlet Amaryllis, or Jacobaca Lily ; 

 is a flower of extraordinary beauty. The flower-stems are frequent- 

 ly produced towards the sides of the bulbs, generally not more than 

 two, which rise successively, so that after the flower produced on 

 one is decay cc* another stalk arises nearly opposite to succeed it; 

 but there is usually not more than one flower on the same stalk. 

 The flowers are large, and of a very deep red ; the under petals 

 hang down, the upper curl up, and the whole flower stands nodding 

 on one side of i ( ^e stalk, making a most beautiful and grand appear- 

 ance. Sometimes, but rarely, two flowers proceed from the same 

 spathe. It is a native of South America. *. 



Its management and season of planting, is in every particular the 

 same as directed for the Tuberose : it flowers generally in about a 

 month after its being planted, and its bulbs do not ripen sufficiently 

 for taking up before November. It is increased by offsets from the 

 roots, which are to be treated, as those of the tuberose. In order 

 to have a succession of the flowers, you may in the middle states, 

 plant some of their roots in the open ground, once a week, from the 

 twentieth of April to the middle of June. And if the roots are 

 strong and are preserved in saw dust, or the like, they will keep 

 good and blow well, even when planted at that late period. How- 

 ever, the roots will not be so strong, the ensuing season, nor the 

 increase so numerous, as if they had been planted in due time. 



These can be made to J^wer, during any of the winter months, 

 by planting some of the strongest bulbs, which were taken up in No- 

 vember and kept dry till the time of planting, in pots of light good 

 earth, and plunging them into the bark-pit in the Hot-house, or 

 into a good hot-bed : in a month or five weeks after, or sooner, 

 if the heat be regular and brisk, they will produce their very ad- 

 mirable flowers. 



Geraniums , Myrtles, Balm of G Ulead, &C. 



For the methods of cultivating the above, and other Green-house 

 plants, see the article Green-house, in this month, and in March. 



Gravel Walks. 



New Gravel walks may be made any time this month ; in the 

 making of which, be very particular in the choice of good and suit- 

 able gravel ; as to colour, you must be governed by fancy and con- 

 venience, but as to quality, it should be coarse and lively, containing 

 a due proportion cf light sandy loam, to make it bind close and 

 fiv-m, at all seasons ; but not so redundant in loam or clay, as to 

 stick to the feet in wet weather ; nor so sandy, as to become open 

 ami loose in dry weather. As to the dimensions and distribution 

 of gravel walks, see page 59, See. Agreeably to the designs there laid 

 down, or lu any other fancy of your own, stake out the width of the 



