On the Production of a Hybrid Amaryllis. 499 



disappeared by handling. They were also free from a brown- 

 ish tint, which is conspicuous towards the extremities of the 

 young leaves of A. vittata, and devoid of the thin edge of the 

 latter, which gives them somewhat the appearance of being 

 surrounded by a whitish membranous margin. Under the 

 good management of Mr. James Croghan, Lord Carnar- 

 von's gardener, these bulbs grew rapidly, with magnificent 

 foliage, their progress being continually watched by myself. 

 The interest excited in them was the greater, because their 

 flowering was calculated to decide the doubtful origin of 

 Amaryllis Johnsoni, whose hybrid quality had been disputed. 

 The first flower showed a few days ago, and was sent to you 

 as soon as fully expanded. 1 believe that you will allow that 

 the nicest observation can detect no point of distinction be- 

 tween it and the flower of Amaryllis Johnsoni. A second 

 bulb is now in flower here ; it is not quite so robust as the 

 one sent to you, but it is in every other respect a fac-simile 

 of it.* All the other seedlings will flower in the course of this 

 autumn, or early in the following spring ; and as they re- 

 semble each other perfectly in foliage, judging from the two 

 already blown, little variation of flower can be expected .+ 

 The hybrid origin of A. Johnsoni I therefore now consider as 

 placed beyond a controversy, but the tradition of the Liver- 

 pool garden to be incorrect, so far as regards its true paren- 



* The flowers were compared with those of Amaryllis Johnsoni, growing at 

 Mr. Colvill's garden at Chelsea, and no difference was perceptible. Seer. 



f Note. November 14, 1821. Seven of the bulbs have flowered in the course 

 of the summer and autumn. No marked distinction has been observed between 

 them. The last but one which flowered had a broader and more prolonged cen- 

 tral stripe. 



