2Q0 



THE FLOWER GROWER'S GUIDE. 



leaves die away before winter, when the bulbs are kept dry new leaves appear with 

 the flowers from March till June, according to the desire of cultivators who have the 

 means of forcing at command, but April is the chief month for Hippeastrums, which 

 moreover have hollow, not solid flower stems. After flowering the foliage strengthens 

 and becomes more developed. 



The evolution of the present innumerable varieties as florists' flowers may be briefly 

 traced. The first hybrid is said to have been raised by a nurseryman named Johnson, 

 who fertilised H. vittatum, introduced from Peru, with pollen from H. regium, or 

 Mexican Lily, and the new variety so obtained was named Johnsoni ; but other species 

 played a more important part in recent years, in the production of the magnificent 

 varieties of to-day. 



IIippeastrum aulicum {long called Amaryllis aulica), introduced from Brazil in 

 1810, of strong growth, nearly evergreen, producing crimson scarlet flowers in the 

 autumn, was one of the parents, fertilised with H. vittatum, of an improved strain 

 produced by Messrs. Garaway and Son, Bristol, about fifty years ago. 



II. PARDiNUM, introduced by Messrs. Veitch and Sons, Limited, from Peru about 

 18G7, crossed with some of the best of the Garaway hybrids by the late E. S. Holford, 

 Esq., Westonbirt, Gloucestershire, resulted in a rich and varied collection, of which the 

 variety Belona is a type. His son, Captain Holford, with his gardener, Mr. Chapman, 

 have effected still further improvements. The beautiful variety, Dr. Masters, resulted 

 from the use of pollen from pardinum. 



H. Leopoldi, another of Messrs Veitch's introductions, also from Peru in 1867, has 

 had great effect, and to this large and symmetrical flower we are mainly indebted for the 

 present grand race ; it only produced two dull reddish flowers on a scape or stem, but 

 by intercrossing with Empress of India and others we now have four to six flowers of 

 the most brilliant and diversified colours imaginable, ranging from crimson, crimson 

 scarlet, orange scarlet, pure white, white striped, and rose pink. 



H. reticulatum, introduced from Brazil, is the forerunner of a fine race of autumn 

 and winter flowering varieties. The crossing of this species with the other section, has 

 resulted in the progeny named Mrs. Garfield and Mrs. Lee, raised by Messrs. "Williams & 

 Son, of Holloway ; also Autumn Beauty and Lady Mayoress, raised by the Messrs. Yeitch 

 at Chelsea. 



Very few flowers have risen so high in public favour amongst affluent amateurs and pro- 

 fessional gardeners as Hippeastrums have done during the past 12 to 15 years; and those 



