HIPPEASTRUMS— CULTURE AND VARIETIES. 



293 



More bulbs are injured and killed from excess of water when starting than from any 

 other cause. Water must be sparingly given until the flower stems are two or three 

 inches high, and the foliage begins to grow vigorously. Then give more water, and 

 as the flowers approach expansion, give still more. 



When the plants are in flower, a slight shading should be used to protect the 

 blooms from the sun's rays, and during the growing season a similar shading is bene- 

 ficial during bright and hot weather. 



After flowering, grow the plants rapidly in a temperature of 60° to 65° at night 

 with a natural increase in the daytime until July, then reduce and give more air and 

 water, but allow them all the sun possible to well ripen the bulbs for the following 

 season. In the absence of bottom heat, do not pot until after the plants have 

 ceased flowering, but treat them exactly as the three-years- old seedlings. This is 

 the best plan where a succession of bloom may be desired for several months and the 

 plants are required for house decoration. 



The bulbs can be grown in any ordinary vinery or other houses with a temperature 

 of 60° to 65°. During the resting period any dry place with the temperature from 

 45° to 50° will suit them. Their value as decorative plants can scarcely be over- 

 estimated ; they can be used in so many ways, and if the stems are cut and placed in 

 water, the flowers will remain fresh for several days in rooms ; even the ordinary seed- 

 lings look well when used for decoration mixed with other plants and flowers or by 

 themselves. The following varieties are very showy and distinct : — 



SELECTION. 



Empress of India. — Very free ; bright orange 



scarlet ; whitish eye. 

 Dr. Masters. — Bright carmine scarlet, shaded with 



dark crimson. 

 Cleopatra. — A rose-shaded variety, whitish rays. 

 Star of India. — Scarlet crimson, greenish rays. 

 Thetis.— Reddish orange crimson, greenish-white star. 



Virginalis. — Creamy white, slightly veined with rose. 

 Johnsoni. — Robust old variety, reddish orange tips. 

 Duke of Albany. — Brilliant scarlet, whitish star. 

 Pauline. — Light scarlet, feathered white. 

 Morning Star. — Rich crimson scarlet, white band. 

 Fairy Queen. — Creamy white, crimson scarlet veins. 

 Olivia. — French white, veined rosy scarlet. 



ANEMONE. 



The anemone in its various species is one of the most valuable of our hardy garden 

 flowers. It varies much in habit of growth, in colouring, and in the period in which 

 it blooms. 



It is, however, to the early flowering species, principally A. coronaria, that the 



