FLOWERING PLANTS I29 



dark green. The plants produce seed quite 

 freely. 



Another very popular bulbous plant is 

 the amaryllis, or rather the hippeastrum. 

 The most popular, and the one that will 

 best withstand the conditions of house cul- 

 ture, is Johnsoni, a garden hybrid. This 

 has been cross-fertilized times innumerable, 

 so that now one may secure varieties in 

 almost any shade of red. The lily-like 

 trumpets are four to five inches across, and 

 are borne on stems eighteen inches to two 

 feet high. The best named varieties arrive 

 from abroad in November. They cannot 

 be secured before because the bulbs must 

 be thoroughly ripened before shipping. Very 

 good American grown bulbs can be secured 

 about a month earlier, however. 



As soon as received pot the bulbs in a 

 good soil composed of three parts rotted sod, 

 two parts well-decayed horse manure, and 

 one part of sand. xA.llow the bulbs to lie 

 dormant until along in January, when, if 

 they are good, strong bulbs, they will flower. 

 As soon as the flower bud is seen emerg- 

 ing from the bulb put the plant in a window 

 where it can get plenty of sunlight and water. 



