CULTIVATION OF THE AMARYLLIS. 25 



grown specimen was exhibited by C. M. Atkinson. Mr. Hovey 

 said that he had three species, I. nohilis, cyrtantha'florum, and 

 miniatum, and there was hardly a week in the year but some of 

 them were in flower. He thought that these also might be 

 planted in the open air, say about the middle of May ; the experi- 

 ment was worthy of trial. 



Mr. Atkinson being called on, said there was no particular 

 merit in the cultivation of the plant exhibited by him, but he 

 would be sorry to treat his plants as recommended by Mr. Hovey. 

 Without good foliage it is impossible to have good flowers. The 

 plant, Imantopliyllum^ is a gross feeder, and if allowed would 

 soon fill a three-feet tub with its roots. His treatment is to 

 deluge the plant with water early in the summer, and afterwards 

 to place it where it will have three or four hours' sun in the day. 

 It is as eas}' to produce a hundred spikes of flowers as five. It is 

 necessary to starve the plants for about six weeks in autumn, in 

 order to force them to produce flower buds. Mr. Atkinson refer- 

 red to an article on the cultivation of this class of plants in the 

 "Journal of the London Horticultural Societ}^ " for 1847, and 

 remarked that some establishments in England cultivate as many 

 as two thousand pots. He thought that planting in the open 

 ground would produce large bulbs, if they were wanted for sale, 

 but would not recommend it if flowers were desired. 



Marshall P. Wilder spoke of the exquisite manner in which the 

 amaryllis was formerly cultivated by J. W. Boott, whose garden 

 and greenhouses were where the Revere House now stands, and 

 who received from England bulbs of new and rare varieties, worth 

 two or three guineas each. What had been said of the ease of 

 cultivation is correct. He spoke of the facility with which new 

 varieties are produced, the flowers being WQiy easily fecundated, 

 and the seed germinating freely. He expressed the hope that the 

 cultivation of these and other plants which have gone out of favor 

 vs^ould be revived. 



John B. Moore said that the bulb of the plant exhibited by him 

 was purchased last year when it was an inch and a half in diameter ; 

 it is now twice as much. He agreed with Mr. Atkinson that the 

 secret of growing good flowers is first to secure good foliage. He 

 grew the bulb in a pot until it showed signs of drying. It was then 

 allowed to become dormant, and when signs of starting appeared 

 was ^rown in a warm place. He thought the bulb was strength- 

 ened by growing so long in the pot. 



