STAR LILY. 407 



The Guernsey Lily called in France, le Us de Japan 

 which has been removed by some botanists from the genus 

 Amaryllis, and called Nerine, is extremely handsome: it 

 is a native of Japan, but has long been naturalized at 

 Guernsey, from which place it is named. There are from 

 eight to twelve flowers on one plant; the circumference 

 of each flower about seven inches. When in full beauty, 

 it has the appearance of a fine gold tissue wrought on a 

 rose-coloured ground; and when it begins to fade, it is 

 pink. If beheld in full sunshine, it seems studded with 

 diamonds ; but by candle-light, looks rather as if it were 

 spangled with fine gold-dust. When the flower begins to 

 wither, the petals assume a deep crimson colour. The 

 flowers begin to appear towards the end of August, and the 

 head is usually three weeks gradually expanding. This 

 plant is said to have been t^ken to Guernsey by a vessel 

 wrecked there on its return from Japan. There, and at 

 Jersey, it thrives as well as in its native country ; and, 

 from both those islands, the roots are annually dispersed 

 over Europe. 



These roots, or rather bulbs, are generally brought over 

 in June or July : they should then be planted in pots of 

 light earth, and refreshed with water two or three times a 

 week, but very gently. Too much wet, especially before 

 they come up, would rot the bulbs. 



About the middle of September, such of the bulbs as 

 are strong enough to flower will begin to show the bud of 

 the flower-stem, which is commonly of a red colour : they 

 should then be placed where they may have the benefit of 

 the sun, and be defended from strong winds ; but by no 

 means must they be placed close to a wall, or under glasses, 

 which would draw them up weak, and render them less 

 beautiful. If the weather be dry, they should still be re- 



