Mb THE GARDEN BOOK OF CALIFORNIA <|J|J 



There seems to be much confusion in the relation of the 

 amaryllis and the hippeastrums, but Nicholson seems satisfied 

 to say that the hippeastrums are always more showy. The 

 large bulbs of the amaryllis should be planted with a bit of 

 the crown exposed, and once planted should rarely be 

 disturbed save once in three or four years when it may be 

 necessary to subdivide. 



A very showy bed may be made by the planting together 

 of amaryllis and the beautiful blue agapanthus. The bella- 

 donna-lily is bare of foliage before blooming, while Agapan- 

 thus umbellatus, or African lily, has beautiful foliage the 

 year round. The Vallota purpurea is very showy, has a 

 good foliage and makes an excellent bed, quite as fine in its 

 way as the brilliant tulips which do not give as good results in 

 Southern California, but in northern localities are fully equal 

 to those of colder climates. Scilla peruviana is a very showy 

 blue blossom sometimes known as the star hyacinth. This 

 magnificent squill was introduced from Spain where it is 

 found in the meadows about Cadiz. It is certainly one of 

 the most brilliant growths of the bulb kind, and I believe 

 that if planted in large quantities in massed beds or borders 

 it would prove most attractive for a long period of time, as 

 the flowers keep their color for many weeks when cut. 



Though tulips have not been particularly successful in 

 Southern California out of doors, in some localities in certain 

 seasons I have seen reasonably good growths and in the plant 

 house they may be as readily forced as in any other environ- 

 ment, seemingly losing nothing in color or size because of dif- 



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