April 10, 1884. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
277 
10 
Til 
n 
F 
Good Friday 
12 
S 
is 
SUN 
Easter Sunday 
14 
M 
bank Holiday 
15 
TU 
10 
W 
efforts with 
starts upon 
AMARYLLISES. 
YBRIDISING has produced wonderful effects in 
many families of the vegetable world, both 
ornamental and useful, and every year the 
importance of the art is becoming more fully 
recognised, as fresh proofs are afforded of the 
extent to which many plants can be improved 
by its aid. In the majority of cases it is no 
longer conducted in a haphazard manner, with 
the hope that fortune may favour the cultivator’s 
something novel or good, but the hybridiser 
his task with a distinct conception of some 
desirable result, and adopts what he considers the best 
means of accomplishing success. He may need a large 
share of patience in his work, but well-directed and sustained 
efforts have ultimately in innumerable instances caused his 
greatest hopes to be realised. Examples of this are afforded 
by most of the genera of popular plants grown for decorative 
purposes, and the progress of several has been occasionally 
traced in these pages ; but as an example of special import¬ 
ance and interest at the present time the Amaryllises or 
Hippeastrums are worthy of some detailed reference. 
Scores of visitors have, during the last few weeks* 
admired Messrs. Yeitch’s grand collection of Amaryllises at 
Chelsea, but beyond the initiated horticulturists few perhaps 
of those who observed the great size, symmetrical form, and 
brilliant colours of the hundreds of flowers there displayed 
had any idea of the time, care, skill, and perseverance 
required to produce such glorious results. Probably many 
would attribute the superiority to better methods of cultiva¬ 
tion ; but though this has much to do with the matter, it 
would be impossible for the most skilful grower to render 
varieties such as are even now seen at exhibitions from 
amateurs in any degree as handsome as the improved forms 
produced by crossing and hybridising. For a long time the 
great object of the Amaryllis lover was to improve its form ; 
the petals were too narrow, and the flower too thin to please a 
florist’s eye. Flowers of larger size, with broad rounded 
petals, were soon obtained, but with this advance in one 
direction there was a corresponding loss in another— 
namely, the colours decreased in brilliancy almost in the 
same ratio as the size and form improved. Having, however, 
gained the finer flowers the next efforts were directed to 
restoring or increasing the richness and brilliancy of colour. 
There, again, success waited upon the improver’s exertions, 
and in consequence varieties have now been produced which 
are so near perfection in all the leading qualities so anxiously 
striven for that there appears to be little room for farther 
advancement. There have been many workers in this 
cause, but the greatest success in recent years has been 
achieved by Messrs. J. Yeitch & Sons and Mr. B. S. 
Williams, who have sent into commerce varieties of standard 
excellence, those from Holloway being unexcelled in bright¬ 
ness of colour ; the Chelsea varieties unequalled in form and 
size, while in some cases, as already noted, a combination of 
No. 198.— Vol, VIII., Third Series, 
the brightest colours with the most handsome forms has 
been effected. 
Comparing the varieties at present grown in the best 
collections with the early forms of the parent species we see 
at a glance how great has been the progress. For instance, 
Amaryllis equestris, the principal progenitor of the race, was 
in its original form comparatively insignificant. Turning to 
the “ Botanical Magazine,” plate 805, published in the year 
1795, we find a figure of a flower 3 or 4 inches in diameter, 
with petals scarcely an inch in breadth and acutely pointed, 
but of a fairly bright shade of scarlet and white at the base. 
This was the type first known, and which was introduced by 
Dr. W. Pitcairn to the Royal Gardens, Ivew, many years 
previously. Some years subsequently a greatly improved 
variety appeared, said to be from Guadaloupe, which was 
figured under the name of A. equestris major in the “ Botanical 
Register,” 1817. This had flowers inches across, the petals 
neatly formed, 2 inches in diameter, and similarly coloured 
to the species. In shape and size this was an enormous 
advance, and was a most welcome addition to the small 
number then known, besides affording a valuable foundation 
for further improvements. 
Another early-known species, the Mexican Lily, Amaryllis 
reginao or Hippeastrum regium, is somewhat of the same 
style as A. equestris, but the flower contained rather more of 
a crimson shade with a lighter stripe in the centre of the 
petals and not confined to the base, as in the one previously 
mentioned. It is said to have first flowered in Mr. Fairchild’s 
garden at Hoxton in 1728, and was then called Lilium 
reginas, “ because it was in its best condition early in March, 
about the time of the Queen’s birthday.” The influence of 
this species may be traced in the varieties at the present 
time, for with the aid of another species, A. vittata, the 
reputedly first hybrid, A. Johnstoni, was obtained, which 
from repeated crossing with other species or varieties has 
yielded a numerous progeny. 
Amaryllis vittata is even in its primitive state a beautiful 
plant, and perhaps less improvement has been effected in 
this type than in any other except in the size of the flower. 
An excellent figure was given in the “ Botanical Magazine” 
for 1790, plate 129, which represents the flower as 3 to 
4 inches long, 3 inches in diameter at the mouth, with petals 
1 inch or less in breadth, white, with two rich rosy stripes 
down each, and a neatly waved margin. Varieties that have 
evidently descended from this are traceable in most collec¬ 
tions ; but though the flowers are much larger than those in 
the engraving named, the body colour is seldom so pure or 
the stripes so rich. 
A. solandraeflora, from Cayenne, has assisted in a slight 
degree in producing the present race of Amaryllises, but not to 
the same extent as the others named. The flower is remark¬ 
able for the great length of the tube, which is often as much 
as 9 inches long, funnel-shaped, with a slightly expanded 
mouth, creamy white in the type; but in a variety termed 
vittata, represented in the “Botanical Register” in 1825, 
the petals have a rose-coloured central band and tube rich 
crimson. 
About 1819 a species was introduced from Brazil by Mr. 
Griffin of South Lambeth. This was named Amaryllis aulica, 
which has played an important part in the improvement of 
the family, though the original form scarcely merited the title 
of “ a splendid novelty ” as it was then described. The 
flowers are very loose but large, G to 7 inches in diameter; 
the petals 1 to 2 inches across, of a rich crimson colour and 
greenish at the base. It is of strong growth, and has probably 
been useful in rendering some of the hybrids more vigorous if 
it has done nothing else. 
Amongst the curiosities A. psittacina is very notable. It 
is from Rio Janeiro, with greenish flowers of good form ; the 
petals rounded with a margin of deep red, which runs into 
the substance of the flower in the form of heavy veins, having 
a peculiar appearance. A. pardina is of much l^ter introduc- 
No. 1854.—Vol. LXX., Old Series. 
