180 GENERAL REVIEW. 



ing to Herbert, cannot be fertilised by pollen of the other kinds. 

 This bears rich crimson flowers, and the flowers are quite 

 different in shape to all the others. H. reticulatum is also a 

 distinct variety, having flowers similar in shape and colour to 

 those of Amaryllis Belladonna, with conspicuous net-like mark- 

 ing on the segments, the deep-green oblong evergreen foliage 

 having an ivory-white stripe down the centre. Both the last- 

 named seem to be pure species, which might possibly repay 

 careful hybridisation under favourable circumstances. 



Among recent cultivators who have raised improved forms 

 of cross-bred Hippeastrums, I may name Messrs Veitch & Sons, 

 who, I believe, have obtained the largest-flowered kinds in 

 cultivation. In one batch of their seedlings. I saw flowers nine 

 or ten inches across, widely expanded, the segments being 

 fully three inches in width. These were for the most part 

 crosses between \H. Ackermanni-pulcherrimum and H.pardinum. 

 Messrs E. G. Henderson, of St John's Wood, have obtained a 

 race of free-blooming and hardy varieties by crossing H. pardi- 

 num with some of the older hybrids. Mr J. Anderson, of Mea- 

 dowbank, also raises numerous seedling forms, his strain being 

 remarkable for brilliant colour. Mr B. S. Williams has also 

 introduced some fine cross-bred forms, one or two of the 

 varieties having very handsome creamy-white flowers, which 

 contrast most beautifully with the scarlet and crimson varieties. 

 For a very full account of this genus, the reader interested is 

 referred to Herbert's * Amaryllidaceae,' p. 135 ; and at p. 142 is 

 a list of many of the earlier hybrids and mixed crosses, with 

 parentage and other interesting notes. 



H. {Amaryllis) vittatum is figured in the ' Bot. Mag.,' t. 129, 

 and is a distinct and beautiful white tubular-flowered form 

 with crimson stripes. This is one of the most characteristic of 

 all the earlier species. Some very beautiful hybrids have re- 

 sulted from fertilising A. psittadna by pollen of the last-named 

 plant ; as also by the fertilisation of A. vittata with pollen of 

 A. pulverulenta and A. braziliensis, and the last again by pollen 

 of A. acaulis. Hybrids have been produced by A. lojigifolia 

 fecundated by pollen of A. formosissimum (St Jacob's Lily); 

 and Crinum (Amaryllis) meldense is from A. longifolia fertilised 

 with pollen from Crinum (Amaryllis) taitense. We have one 

 or two double-flowered Amaryllids in cultivation, so that their 

 further multiplication is merely a question of time. H. (Am- 

 aryllis) fulgidum fl.-pl. (see 'Revue Hort.,' 1869, p. 411) is a 

 glowing scarlet variety ; and a full double variety was sent out 

 by Messrs E. G. Henderson, a year or two ago, under the 

 name of H. (Amaryllis) Albertii. 



