202 THE AMARYLLIS. 



ing them near the flues to ripen them, is faulty ; for, when 

 potted, the bulbs have immediately to be plunged into bot- 

 tom-heat, that new roots may be quickly formed to support 

 the flower-stem, as otherwise the flowers fail to expand. 



Deep, narrow pots, eight inches in depth, and double the 

 diameter of the bulbs, are the best pots to grow them in. 



Frequent potting and plenty of pot-room are not neces- 

 sary ; and potting a plant because the pot is full of roots 

 will frequently prevent its flowering. The pot can never 

 be too full of roots, as the bulbs flower all the better 

 for being cramped: and as long as the drainage is per- 

 fect, and the soil is sweet, it is immaterial how long the 

 plants are kept in the same soil and pots ; only the offsets 

 should be removed to prevent them from weakening the 

 parent. 



The bulbs should be potted as soon as received in a com- 

 post of old, turfy, yellow loam, not sifted, but lumpy ; add 

 to this one-sixth of sharp sand, and in this pot the bulbs, 

 the neck being level with the top of the pot, and the soil 

 carefully put round the sides and pressed gently down, leav- 

 ing a hollow of half an inch at the top of the pot for water- 

 ing, the bulb being covered to the neck with soil. Finish 

 with a copious watering. 



