On a Hybrid Amaryllis, $c. 391 



resembles that species in general appearance, but preserves 

 the more expanded form and broader petals of its male pa- 

 rent, A. Johnsoni. With A. Jolmsoni it also conforms in throw- 

 ing up two scapes together, an occurrence which I have 

 never seen but once in A. vittata, though there are numerous 

 flowering bulbs of it in the collection at this place. When 

 placed by the side of Amaryllis vittata, of which we had strong 

 specimens at the same time in flower, it eclipsed it; the crimson 

 streaks were wider, more defined, and of a richer tone of colour, 

 which, aided by the greater width of its lacinia?, and their 

 broader expansion, gave it greatly the advantage ; additional 

 beauty also resulted from the deeper and more conspicuous 

 tint of the crimson streaks on their exterior surface. Four 

 of the bulbs which flowered here, and one which flowered in 

 the collection of the Hon. William Herbert, at Spofforth, 

 agreed almost entirely in character ; but two others of the 

 same set varied, by taking after the male parent A. Johnsoni, 

 in colour and general appearance, yet differing enough to 

 constitute lovely varieties distinguishable also from it in 

 smell, in which respect they approximate to A. vittata. 



I may as well observe here, that in calling these new produc- 

 tions hybrids, I adopt the phraseology in common use, without 

 being convinced of its propriety, but rather doubting it. It 

 appears to me highly probable, that the same obstacles which 

 have been so wisely applied by the creative power to a con- 

 fusion of races in the animal kingdom, may have been ex- 

 tended to the vegetable one, and that every true hybrid plant 

 is sterile. When, therefore, by the artificial union of two 

 plants of the same genus, classed by naturalists as distinct 

 species, we succeed in raising a progeny perfect in all its 



