254 



THE CANADIAN H0RTICULTUKI8T. 



pot, together, when in the course of 

 three years' individual handling they 

 attain sufficient size to bloom. The 

 success of this variety has caused many 

 to ti-y the more difficult task of grow- 

 ing the hybrid seedlings. The cultiva- 

 tion is the same as described under the 

 heading of A. formosissima. 



Amaryllis Hybrid seedlings cover a 

 larger number of varieties. Suffice it 

 to say, if the amateur has made them a 

 specialty he will attain the climax of 

 perfection. There are European cata- 

 logues which list as many as a hundi'ed 

 varieties of this genus, varying in pi'ice 

 from one to twelve dollars per bulb, 

 but I have seen splendid results with 

 parties who have purchased bulbs of 

 hybi-id seedlings at, say, one dollar to 

 one dollar and fifty cents each. The 

 flowers range in colour from dark red 

 gi'ound sti-ii)ed with white and yellow 

 to pure white ground striped with dai"k 

 red. Tlie individual flower is from two 

 to three times lai'ger than the A. vail, 

 purpurea, which is in itself an advan- 

 tage that excites the curiosity of the 

 ambitious amateur. The cultivation of 

 A. hybrid seedlings is perhaps a trifle 

 more difficult, because if planted now 

 they sometimes take from four to five 

 months to root properly, and they 

 should not be brought to the light luitil 

 the pot is well filled with roots, which 

 is natu^ ; for having to throw out a 

 heavier stem, they must necessarily 

 require more roots to snppoi-t their 

 handsome flowers, therefore- let ^e 

 amateur not despair, but wait patiently 

 for the sufficient amount of roots re- 

 quired. A frequent application of 

 liquid manure after being brought to 

 the light is necessaiy. The bulbs when 

 bought should be from five to nine 

 inches in circumference, otherwise they 

 will not be strong enough to flowei-. 



Many other varieties I might class 

 separately, but the foregoing are par- 

 ticularly Avorthy of special mention and 



can be easily grown. The cultivation 

 of the other varieties is the same as 

 that of the Hyacinth, with the addi- 

 tion of the special instructions given 

 above. 



• r.V FRANX'IS MASO.N", rETKRBOROrGII, OST. 



GOSSIP. 



How much we do feel like scolding 

 and complaining ! Just as our garden 

 was beginning to look its best, that 

 hoary-headed monster. Jack Frost, one 

 night came near, jumped the fence, and 

 breathed his icy breath all over our 

 beds of flowers ; and next morning, 

 when the sun arose, blackness and 

 destruction met us at every turn. 



" Fled are the roses, dead are the roses, 

 The fflow and the g^Iory done, 

 And down the hollow the steel winy'd swallow 

 Flying' the way of the sun. 



In place of summer a dread new-comer 



His solemn state renews ; 

 His frosts so hoar^- touch'^ith glory 



Maple and oak and thorn ; 

 And rising and falling his winds are calling, 



Like a hunter through his horn." 



The gorgeous apparel autumn ap^ared 

 in a short time ago is laid aside, and, 

 as Longfellow has put it. 



Within the solemn woods of ash deep-crimsoned, 

 And silvery lieech, and maple yellow -leaved. 

 There autumn, like a faint old man, sits down 

 By the wayside a-weary. 



And we might say, from all appear- 

 ances, the weariness has ended in 

 death : for, although the ash, beech, 

 and maple were a short time ago 

 clothed in a coat of many colors^ now 

 the fi'osts and cold winds have removed 

 this last vestige of autumn's reign. 

 And now, though our work in the 

 garden must for a while be laid aside, 

 yet we may plan and arrange for 

 another season's work, taking a back- 



