HIPPEASTRUMS. 



zq l 



persons who have had the pleasure of seeing them exhibited at the Eoyal Horticultural 

 Society's meetings in the spring, must have been struck with the marvellous improve- 

 ments made in those splendid flowers, both in size, form, and colour. Every year 

 brings out fresh surprises, and wonder is incited as to what next the hybridist will 

 place before the Floral Committees of that useful society. 



During the months of March, April, and May, it has become one of the floral sights 

 of London to pay a visit to the "Amaryllis" (Hippeastrum) House (Fig. 139), in the 

 nurseries of Messrs. James Yeitch & Sons, Limited, at Chelsea, where there can be seen 

 thousands of blooms which, when at their best in the different shades of colours, present 



Fig. 139. Hippe a strums. (Large bloom one-third natural size.) 



a veritable blaze of beauty. There visitors can see the work of the hybridist, and 

 note the rapid strides made with those flowers from a comparatively few species to 

 an almost bewildering number of infinitely grander varieties. Messrs. Williams, of 

 Holloway, Paul and Sons, Cheshunt, and others have also been working to improve 

 them. 



Now in order to produce such and further improvements, the hybridist must have 

 the material wherewith to set to work, and to do this he must look about him for the 

 right species and improved varieties for that purpose. He must also have an object in 

 view before he commences operations, and see if he require size, form or colour, or an 



p p 2 



