COOL GREENHOUSE, 117 



of shoots, where available, may be inserted in small pots, 

 and offsets removed at repotting time. Bulbs or tubers may 

 also be purchased from bulb dealers in autumn. 



Sprekelia. The only species, S. formosissima, com- 

 monly known as the Jacobean Lily, was formerly included 

 in the genus Amaryllis, but is now placed in the present 

 one. It is an interesting and an easy plant to grow. 

 The flowers are similar to those of the Amaryllis, but crim- 

 son in colour, and borne in summer on stems two feet 

 high. There are two or three varieties, as glauca, paler 

 colour than the parent; Karwinskii, flowers edged with 

 white; and ringens, with the upper segments marked with 

 yellow. 



The bulbs require to be grown in a compost of two parts 

 loam, one of decayed manure, and one of coarse silver 

 sand. In February plant the bulbs singly, two-thirds of 

 their depth, firmly in Gin. pots. Place the pot in a warm 

 part of the greenhouse, but give no water till growth be- 

 gins, then supply it freely. It is not necessary to repot 

 oftener than once in three years, in which case after the 

 first year liquid manure may be applied during the spring. 

 In late summer gradually withhold water, and keep the 

 soil dry all the winter. Increase in a similar way to 

 Hippeastrums, which see. 



Vail ota (Scarborough Lily). A popular window and 

 greenhouse plant, which is much appreciated because of 

 its easy culture and flowering in late summer. It is bul- 

 bous-rooted, and has evergreen foliage. The only species 

 is purpurea, which bears red flowers in August or early 

 September. There are several pretty varieties of it, as, 

 for instance, eximia, white, feathered with crimson; mag- 

 nifica, large flowered; major, reddish-scarlet; and minor, 

 red. There is also a very fine hybrid named hybrida, 

 which bears bright vermilion flowers: 



The best soil in which to grow the Vallota well is equal 



