THE AMARYLLIS AND STAR LILY FAMILY. 175 



afforded by the tubular flowers. As we have said, the flowers 

 open in gradual succession from the bottom of the flower-spikes 

 upwards, and the section of the stem for five or six inches, 

 where it is occupied by fully-expanded flowers, resembles a 

 bottle-brush more than anything else, the anthers sticking out 

 quite thickly in all directions ; and it is an amusing sight to 

 see flies, bees, wasps, ants, and at night cockroaches (Blatta 

 orientalis), struggling through the pollen-laden stamens in their 

 attempts to obtain honey from the flower-tubes. Old plants 

 may be renovated by cutting the plant off at the collar, after 

 which set the decapitated plant on a pot or tube of fresh com- 

 post, and it will soon throw out new roots. Seeds may be 

 sown as soon as they are ripe in a pan of moist rich earth, after 

 which place them on a shelf near the glass and water carefully. 

 Seedling plants vary very much even if the parent plant has 

 been fertilised with its own pollen. One or two garden hybrids 

 have been obtained. 



A. Taylor ii. This beautiful and distinct hybrid is the 

 result of a cross between A. geminifiora and A. densiflora, and 

 was obtained by Mr Taylor, who is so well known in connection 

 with the celebrated collection of Cycadaceous plants at Lauder- 

 dale House, Highgate. It was sent out by Mr B. S. Williams 

 in 1874. A. perbella is another distinct hybrid the origin of 

 which is known, it having been raised by M. Kerchove at 

 Vaslau, near Ghent. It is the result of a cross between 

 A. Xylacantha and A. univittata, and was sent out by M. 

 de Smet. 



Alstroemeria. A very showy genus of very variable orna- 

 mental plants, having fascicled or bundled fleshy roots, reversed 

 or resupinate leaves, and yellow, red, or greenish Gladiolus-like 

 flowers. They are readily propagated by dividing the flesh- 

 roots or crowns. Seeds are freely produced on warm rich soils, 

 and germinate readily if sown as soon as ripe, or in the spring 

 in light rich soil and placed in a gentle bottom-heat, or in a 

 cool frame in April or May. Seedlings are remarkable for 

 their great variety, and all the so-called species very closely 

 resemble each other. They are natives of South America, and 

 it would be interesting to know if they are variable in their na- 

 tive habitats. About 1841-42, M. Van Houtte raised numerous 

 seedling and hybrid varieties, some of the latter being raised 

 from A. Hooker i fertilised with pollen from A. hczmantha. A. 

 chilensis has produced some fine forms by being crossed with 

 pollen of other varieties. A. Errenbaulti is a Continental 

 hybrid, said to have been obtained by fertilising A. pelegrina 

 with pollen from A. pulchra. This variety is beautifully spotted, 



