AMARYLLIS. HIPPEASTRUM. 13 



is now rarely met. Propagation is effected by offsets, or 

 from seed; the latter is too slow a process, excepting 

 when the seed can be started without artificial heat. The 

 name Amaryllis is supposed to have been taken from a 

 famous shepherdess mentioned by Virgil, and distin- 

 guished for her beauty. 



HIPPEASTRUM. 



This genus contains more than fifty species, all of 

 which are popularly known as Amaryllis. All of them 

 are ornamental plants, suited to the greenhouse and 

 window garden, or open border, under certain condi- 

 tions. But few plants are more attractive in winter and 

 spring than most of the species, while the many beauti- 

 ful hybrids, gorgeous in color and grand in form, add to 

 their many charms. Their flowers have a wide range of 

 color, and the most remarkable shades and markings; 

 the intensity of color in some of the species is rarely 

 equalled by that of any other plant. Some of the flow- 

 ers are of the deepest and richest crimson, and blood 

 red ; others are nearly pure white, striped, mottled and 

 blended in the most striking and peculiar manner ; some 

 are of a rich, deep orange, boldly marked with white, a 

 most pleasing combination of color. Some of the species 

 are evergreen. The foliage and flowers appearing simul- 

 taneously, mark the perfect plant. Some of the hybrid 

 forms, as H. Williamsi, are almost constant bloomers, 

 a most acceptable feature. See engraving, Page 11. 



No other bulbs hybridize and cross-fertilize more 

 freely, and the work has been carried on until the spe- 

 cies have become so mixed that plants grown from seed 

 of any marked form are sure to produce varieties of 

 special merit. Each year adds to the already large 

 number of seedling forms, many varieties so entirely 

 different in form and markings, that it seems as if there 

 was no limit to the possibilities of the plants for sur- 



