192 On the Treatment of Amaryllis longifolia, $c. 



grow in river mud, and should be cultivated in our stoves 

 with a pan of water under them, the bulbs being raised above 

 the earth, and stripped of all dead integuments, but those of 

 Crinum Capense, being hardier and liable to bleed, thrive 

 best under ground. 



I am, Dear Sir, 

 Your most obedient humble Servant, 



William Herbert. 



Spofforth, July 1, 1818. 



Postscript, September 2, 1818. 



The bulb of Crinum Capense, or Amaryllis longifolia, 

 which had been put into the pond in April, the top of the 

 pot being a foot and a half, or more, under water, pushed a 

 vigorous flower stem, two or three days after the date of my 

 letter, which advanced with such rapidity that the spathe on 

 the 9th of July stood as high above the water as that of the 

 bulb which was immediately under its surface. It appears, 

 therefore, that the depth of water necessary to protect the 

 bulbs in the winter will not delay the flowering much more 

 than a week, if at all. The bulbs continued flowering till the 

 middle of August, the first having sent up three, the second 

 two successive stems. Another root, which, though not in 

 the pond, was kept extremely wet, produced four stems be- 

 tween the 1st of May and the 20th of July. All the plants 

 have perfected their seed. Some of the pods have attained 

 the size of an apple, about seven inches in circumference, 

 bending the peduncles completely down by their weight, 

 while the stem continues erect. They contained from nine 

 to near sixty seeds, varying in size from that of a small wal- 



