THE AMARYLLIS AND STAR LILY FAMILY. 173 



stately massive-leaved Agaves of Mexico. Nearly all are 

 bulbous plants, readily propagated by offsets, suckers, or seeds, 

 which are very freely produced. Fourcroyas, a rather distinct 

 section of Agaveoe, rarely seed, but produce large quantities of 

 fleshy bulbils on their flower-stems, which soon form plants 

 when placed on moist soil. Seeds germinate very readily if 

 sown as soon as ripe in pans of moist rich earth and placed 

 on a gentle bottom-heat of 65 to 70. Valotta purpurea is 

 one of the most brilliant decorative plants in the order, and 

 is nearly hardy, being often grown in cottage windows under 

 the popular name of Scarborough Lily. Seedlings from it 

 have often been raised, but they are remarkably constant in 

 character. This plant will not cross with Hippeastrum or 

 Amaryllis, but might possibly be induced to do so with 

 Cyrtanthus or Gastronema. It may not be impossible to hope 

 for hybrids between Doryanthes and Fourcroya or Agave ; at 

 any rate, if pollen can be procured the union is worth attempt- 

 ing. Doryanthes excelsa is a noble scarlet-flowered Amaryllid 

 from New Holland (see Bot. Mag., t. 1684-85). Eucharis is 

 lovely enough at present, but one may be excused for desiring 

 hybrids (if they can be procured) between that genus and some 

 other of the Pancratiform Amaryllids. The hardy Crinums 

 that is, the crosses between C. capense and other species 

 might be improved in vigour by again crossing them with C. 

 longiflorum, another hardy Cape species bearing handsome 

 purple flowers ; and among the fifty or sixty species of Crinum 

 already known, and at one time or other introduced to our 

 gardens, there is ample room for intelligent hybridisation. 

 What glorious masses of bright green leaves and fragrant Lily- 

 like flowers these plants would give us if we boldly planted 

 them out in the deep rich borders of our conservatories 

 instead of starving them in pots ! The following are the 

 principal cultivated genera in this beautiful group : Galanthns 

 (Snowdrops), Leucojum (Snowflakes), Ads, Bravoa, Stern- 

 bergia, Amaryllis, Zephyranthes , Hippeastrum, Valotta, Nerine, 

 Brunsvigia, Griffinia, Crinum, Hcemanthus, Cyrtanthus, 

 Gastronema, Eurydes, Calostemma, Urceolina, Coburgia, Steno- 

 messon, Pancratium, Ismene, Narcissus, Alstrcemeria, Bomarea, 

 Clivia, Doryanthes, Agave, and Fourcroya. 



Acis. A small genus of dwarf-growing hardy Amaryllids 

 nearly related to the Snowflakes (Leucojum). They are 

 natives of Northern Africa and the South of Europe, and are 

 represented in our gardens by A. rosea, A. autumnalis, and 

 A. grandiflora. They are easily multiplied by dividing estab- 

 lished clumps or masses ; or seeds which are freely produced 



