ON STOVE PLANTS. 



643 



Repot in the spring, using a good substantial soil of two parts 

 fibrous loam, and one part leaf-mould and sand, in well-drained 

 pots. A. Willidmsii is of dwarf, compact, bushy habit, with rich 

 dark green foliage, and produces an abundance of beautiful, clear, 

 bright yellow, sweet-scented flowers from 3^in. to 4^in. in diameter 

 the whole summer ; it also flowers freely in small pots. 



Amaryllis (Hippeastrum). — These truly gorgeous flowers are 

 among the most brilliant and effective in the whole Vegetable 

 Kingdom. By the untiring efforts and skill of the hybridist the 

 most gratifying results have been attained in the improvement of 

 shape, colours, and substance of the flowers, from a horticultural 

 point of view, leaving now little to be desired. The beautiful 

 hybrid varieties are now ousting the formerly high-prized species 

 — so much so that the latter are now comparatively little grown 

 and with difficulty obtained, even if required. 



FIG. 413. — ^ESCHYNANTHUS BOSCHIANDS. 



Turn the bulbs out of their pots in January or February, 

 remove all the old soil, and thoroughly cleanse them from all 

 decayed matter. Repot rather firmly in a compost of two-thirds 

 good fibrous loam and one-third of equal parts cow-manure and 

 leaf-mould,- with a small quantity of sharp sand. It is a good 

 plan to mix the loam and cow-manure in layers in a good- 

 sized heap six months before it is required for use. Insert the 

 bulbs about two-thirds of their depth in the soil and plunge 

 the pots in old tan or leaf-mould, with a gentle bottom-heat, 

 and a night temperature in the atmosphere of 5Sdeg. to 6odeg. 

 Water sparingly until growth commences and the flower-stems 

 and foliage appear, and then apply moisture more freely. After" 



2 t 2 



