THE CANADIAN H0RTICULTUKI8T. 



119 



moisture. If the following rules be 

 followed as nearly as possible there will 

 be no difficulty in growing satisfactorily 

 this very desirable plant : — 



1. When you obtain your bulb se- 

 cure for its reception a pot with a 

 diameter about three times that of the 

 diameter of your bulb. It may be even 

 smaller than this, but see that in no 

 case it exceeds it in size. Over-potting 

 is perhaps the greatest error amateurs 

 are likely to make in gi-owing any 

 plant, and unfortunately the Amaryllis 

 is no exception to the general rule. 

 This bulb will even flower better for 

 being somewhat cramped so long as the 

 drainage is good. Now fill the bottom 

 of your pot to the depth of two inches 

 with charcoal to secu.re perfect drain- 

 age, and fill in the remainder with good 

 rich soil. 



2. In planting be sure that one-half 

 your bulb at least is above the surface 

 of the soil. Please read this again be- 

 fore you proceed further, as there is 

 perhaps no other point so necessary of 

 observation as this. 



Bear in mind that all the nourish- 

 ment is taken in by the roots, and as 

 these are located at the bottom of the 

 bulb only, no nourishment can enter at 

 the side. 



3. Avoid pouring water over the 

 bulb, for if it be allowed to enter at 

 the neck the moisture may result in 

 centre-rot, or if by chance it be ab- 

 sorbed into the bulb it may not entire- 

 ly cause the death of the plant, but it 

 is certain to materially weaken it, and 

 will almost invariably destroy the tiny 

 flower scape already formed between 

 the scales at its base. Water should, 

 therefore, invariably be given from be- 

 neath. 



4. After the bulb has flowered a 

 short season of vigorous growth should 

 be given in order to provide for future 

 bloom, for it is now that those little 

 flower scapes are formed which, after a 



season of rest, come forth in all their 

 vigor and beauty to amply repay us for 

 our time and trouble. 



5. The necessary growth after bloom- 

 ing having been given, it should next in- 

 variably be given a season of rest. For 

 this purpose you should not take it out 

 of the pot, as it robs the bulb of much 

 of its strength, and not unfrequently 

 injures the flower scape so that it is 

 entirely lost. When at rest give it 

 only a very small amount of moisture, 

 although it should not be allowed to 

 entirely dry ofl", as in such a case you 

 will be veiy apt to lose it altogether. 

 It should not be hurried at this par- 

 ticular stage ; it will make known its 

 wants in due course ))y starting a new 

 growth, after which water may be ap- 

 plied more freely. Take oS" the leaves 

 only as they turn yellow, for removing 

 green healthy ones only weakens the 

 plant. By following carefully the 

 natural requirements of growth and 

 rest you have the surest way to secure 

 perfect bloom. 



The Amaryllis possesses this advan- 

 tage over most other house plants, that 

 it may be set away at any season un- 

 der almost any conditions, and yet re- 

 tain its vitality for months. Of the 

 several varieties I shall say nothing, as 

 the grower can choose those that are 

 most agreeable to his or her own taste. 



A. A. Wright. 



Renfrew, Marcli 11th, 1885. 



Prunus Pissardii. — You who are fond 

 of the rare and beautiful, buy a plant of 

 Prunus Pissardii next spring. Its foliage 

 is purple, which color is held more deci- 

 dedly during the season than that of any 

 other colored-foliage plant ; and the 

 leaves remain unharmed until after frosts. 

 The Bund in this, as in all such mattei's, 

 speaks from experience. It confidently 

 advises its readers to try this plum, though 

 the fruit itself is not worth mucli. — Rural 

 New- Yorker. 



