162 The Flower Garden [Chapter 



C. Kunthianum, another of the large-growing 

 Crinums, is highly to be recommended for amateur 

 culture, being much more easily managed than either 

 ornatum or Kirkii. It is evergreen, and has broad 

 strap leaves of a bluish green that, in the house, are 

 held erect, and for this reason it presents the finest 

 appearance of all Crinums. It throws up a tall 

 spike crowned with ten or twelve large, lily-like flow- 

 ers of a rosy white with crimson stripes through the 

 petals. 



The general treatment of Amaryllis is the same as 

 for Crinums. Disturb the roots as little as possible, 

 and give as complete seasons of rest as the plant seems 

 to require. When it is apparent that they are trying 

 to rest they should not be forced to grow, but aided 

 to sleep by judicious withholding of water, temper- 

 ing of the light, and the like. Evergreen Amaryllis, 

 like the Aulica platypetala, do not need these periods 

 of complete rest, but they need a partial rest, and as 

 long as no new leaves appear should be watered mod- 

 erately and the roots left undisturbed as long as pos- 

 sible. Remove all offshoots that have grown to any 

 size when the plant starts to grow and the top-soil 

 is being renewed, and pot them off in small pots an 

 inch larger than the bulbs. The number of fine hy- 

 brids have increased so rapidly of late years that it 

 is impossible to describe them separately, as many of 

 them are flaked and splashed with colour in a won- 

 derful manner. Of the old-time favourites it is 



