258 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



colour, as well as waxy-white varieties. In recent years he 

 says : " We now cross only the best forms with the colours we 

 want, and never fall back on the species." As to the time the 

 seedlings take to produce their flowers, the Leyden strain can 

 be flowered in four years from the seeds, the Leopoldi and 

 pardinum strain in two years. 



The bulbs are stored on shelves until they are ready to be 

 repotted early in the year, when the soil is shaken out from the 

 roots ; but the roots are carefully preserved. They are repotted 

 about the middle of February ; but Heer de Graaff adds, they 

 would rather do it early in January if convenient. They are in 

 flower from four to six weeks from the time of potting, and are 

 plunged in a bottom heat of tan, which is preferred to all 

 others ; the temperature of the house is about 60°. The fine 

 Hippeastrum Empress of India was raised here by crossing 

 psittacinum with Graveana — not the French variety, but a 

 seedling of their own. Heer de Graaff further adds that the 

 foliage is cut off in November ; the bulbs receive no water after 

 this, nor during their whole period of rest. 



Messrs. Kelway & Son, of Langport, Somerset, began seven- 

 teen years ago a system of culture that seems well worth notice. 

 Messrs. Kelway have exhibited their strain both in the form of 

 cut flowers and plants at several meetings of the Society, and 

 as decorative subjects for the greenhouse or conservatory the 

 strain is admirably adapted. Mr. James Kelway was good 

 enough to write me details of the culture practised at Lang- 

 port. 



Writing on January 29, he says : — 



" We are now commencing to plant our seedlings and offsets 

 in unheated span-roofed frames ; these frames are 9 feet wide, 

 with wooden sides and ends. They are placed over the ordinary 

 soil of the garden in an open position. The soil, after it has 

 been enriched with old hotbed or cow manure, with a liberal 

 supply of yellow sand, is ready for planting. The bulbs are 

 planted in drills from 6 to 9 inches apart, and from 3 to 

 6 inches asunder in the drills ; they are also planted from 

 2 to 4 inches deep, according to size. They remain in these 

 frames two or three years, and by that time they are large 

 enough to flower. In winter they are protected by straw being 

 placed over the bulbs under the glass, and mats outside. 



