204 THE AMARYLLIS. 



Some of them need no hot-bed treatment ; for example, 

 Sprekelia (Amaryllis) formosissimus, the well-known Jaco- 

 bean lily, and Hippeastrum vittatum : these do well in ordi- 

 nary greenhouse treatment, and are among the handsomest 

 of the family. The great rule to be remembered in amaryl- 

 lis-growing is never to water the bulbs until they show 

 signs of growth, unless they are plunged in bottom-heat, 

 but allow them a natural season of rest. They will begin 

 growing when they are ready ; and watering before the 

 leaves appear helps to produce decay in the bulb, and de- 

 stroys the roots. No set time can be given for starting 

 amaryllis into growth, or for repotting them. The bulbs 

 do not all start into growth at once, nor do all grow equally. 

 Some are late, some are early ; but, when the leaves cease 

 to elongate, the growth has been made. In general, the 

 plants start into growth in January, and attain their full 

 growth, and need repotting, in July ; but they never need 

 potting while the drainage is perfect and the soil is sweet. 

 After potting, the plants should be kept on a shady shelf 

 for a few days, to recover from the check produced by the 

 operation : they may then be removed to the shelf in the 

 greenhouse, near the glass, and treated as before directed. 

 The care to be taken is that the green foliage does not flag 



