254 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



then it should be sparingly applied until the flower buds appear, 

 but from that time a more liberal supply should be given till the 

 foliage is perfected ; it should be then gradually reduced until 

 about the middle of August, when it should be withheld alto- 

 gether. Eight or nine weeks later the pots may be lifted out of 

 the plunging material, and after an interval of another month 

 all the plunging material should be removed from the house, 

 and the bulbs kept perfectly dormant on the stage till the potting 

 season comes round again ; the house, too, should be kept as 

 dry as possible the whole time the bulbs are at rest. We use no 

 liquid or artificial manure at any time. Much has been written 

 in the horticultural press about the mite that appears both on 

 the Eucharis and on the Hippeastrum, but we have no fear of it. 

 In my opinion its prevention is simply a matter of not over-pot- 

 ting and not over-watering, and we have seldom seen bulbs, 

 however badly affected, that could not be brought into perfect 

 health again. 



Treatment' after Flowering. — After flowering the pots should 

 be kept plunged, and each pot and about half the exposed part 

 of the bulb should be covered with the plunging material. When 

 the roots begin to push, more bottom heat and more water should 

 be given ; the atmosphere of the house should be kept more 

 humid, and the foliage occasionally syringed. In bright, warm 

 weather a slight shading should be used, and the growth of the 

 plants encouraged to proceed as rapidly as possible, for the 

 stronger the bulbs the finer will be the flower scapes and their 

 flowers in the following spring. Towards the end of July the 

 bulbs should be gradually ripened by diminishing the shading, 

 and three or four weeks later the shading may be discontinued 

 altogether, and as much light and air admitted into the house 

 as possible. 



Insects. — 'There will be no difficulty with these pests if their 

 first appearance is watched for, and their increase checked as 

 soon as they are discovered. Thrip will spot the foliage, but 

 fumigating occasionally will keep them under. During the 

 summer months red-spider will also attack the foliage, but their 

 increase can be prevented by syringing, and by keeping a moist 

 atmosphere in the house. Sometimes mealy-bug appears, 

 especially if the bulbs are placed near plants subject to the 

 attacks of that plague, but it can be easily kept in check by 



