276 
AMARYLLIDACEiE. 
formed during the growth of the leaves ; though a strong 
previous growth of the leaf seems necessary to its formation 
by the return of the sap from the leaf at the time of their 
decay ; the seasonable drying up of the leaf seems to be the 
requisite circumstance, if followed by a sufficiently high tem- 
perature. In a pot it is very easy to regulate the points 
above stated ; in the open ground it can only be done by 
putting a glass covering or awning over the bulbs, so as to 
keep off the rain in a wet summer. At Spofforth the bulbs 
of A. belladonna are placed at two feet distance from the 
front wall of a stove and greenhouse ; and there, in a fa- 
vourable season, near 200 stems rise in September in 
thick patches. I have seen 30 stems in close contact. A 
rich and even strong and manured soil is agreeable to them, 
and a south wall promotes the drying of the roots in summer. 
They very rarely flower with mein the middle of the garden. 
The proper treatment of all greenhouse bulbs that flower 
before the appearance of the leaf in autumn, is to promote a 
vigorous growth of leaf in as airy a situation as may be found 
suitable to their respective constitutions, to keep them hot 
and dry while at rest (a glass frame in the full sun will 
answer the purpose), and to water them freely when the 
time for vegetation arrives. The flower-bud is probably 
formed at the moment when the leaf perishes, but without 
sufficient heat during the time of apparent rest, the bulb 
will not supply it with the juices necessary to bring it to 
perfection, which in many cases enable it to sprout without 
any aliment to the bulb. I possess a plant belonging to the 
confused mass of Ornithogalum, which produces a strong 
spike of flowers a yard high, and ripens its seed if kept with- 
out water; but a single copious watering is fatal to the scape 
and brings forward the leaves, which should not appear till 
later. The seeds of Belladonna are pearl colored, purple on 
the exposed side, and the seedlings are many years coming 
to maturity. The plant long cultivated in Europe is beauti- 
fully pencilled with red ; the variety brought of later years 
from the Cape is paler, and turns to a deeper red as it fades ; 
the leaves of the broad variety shew more diversity than 
the flower. Some imported bulbs have a much taller and 
more robust scape, and their flowers in fading assume a 
deeper red. 
With respect to the doubts expressed by Mr. Ker, Bot. 
Mag. 733. & 1450. concerning this and the following plant, 
