CHAPTER XXI 



THE AMARYLLIS, VALLOTA, GLOXINIA AND TUBER- 

 OUS BEGONIA 



The Amaryllis 



This is a noble genus of plants. The flowers are 

 gorgeous in coloring and conspicuous on acount of 

 shape and habit of growth. A fine plant, when in 

 bloom, always elicits great admiration, and there are 

 few collections which do not include one or more 

 varieties. But, as a general thing, few plants are more 

 unsatisfactory. It is a general complaint from ladies 

 that "my Amaryllis won't bloom. What is the matter 

 with it?" 



As a general thing the "matter" is simply this : 

 The habit of the plant is not understood. It must 

 have a period of rest after each period of growth, and 

 unless these periods succeed each other regularly you 

 will be likely to get no flowers. As generally grown, 

 the plants are kept growing all the season. They are 

 kept in the window, and water given regularly. This 

 is wrong. While making new leaves growth should 

 be encouraged. When the leaves stop coming and the 

 older ones begin to turn yellow, you may take it as an 

 indication that the plant wants to rest. Encourage 

 it to do this in as complete a manner as possible by 

 withholding water. Not so much so that the soil 

 becomes quite dry, but just moist enough to keep 

 the bulb plump. Set away from the light. If the 

 foliage all dies off it does not matter. 



Among the first indications of a resumption of 

 growth will quite often be the appearance of a flower 

 stalk. When this .shows, give liquid manure, li^ht 



