April 1, 188-3. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
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Royal Society at -130 p.ii. Linnean Society at 8 r.M. 
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Royal Botanic Society at 3.45 p M. 
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4th Sunday in Lent. 
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Society of Arts at 8 P.M. 
HIPPE ASTKUMS. 
old Donald Beaton was right—and it is ques¬ 
tionable if any person living can prove him 
wrong in the matter—all the so-called Amaryl¬ 
lises that flower at this season of the year are 
Hippeastrume. Thirty years ago in describing 
a seedling exhibited by Mr. Snow, gardener to 
the Earl de Grey, at one of the Horticultural 
Society’s meetings, the “ Grand Old Gardener ” 
observed, “ It is a soft shade between scarlet 
and crimson, the midrib of each petal being banded with 
white, denoting a descent from H. rutilum and some variety 
of Johnsoni. Every Amaryllis-like flower with a white band 
in the middle of the petal is some variety of Johnsoni, the 
oldest of all these crosses being the issue of H. regium and 
H. vitellinum.” Mr. Snow’s variety was pronounced desir¬ 
able on two grounds—first, because it was “ deliciously sweet 
in a scentless family;” and secondly, because of the habit— 
“ the leaves coming up half-height simultaneously with the 
flowers—a not very usual occurrence with this group.” He 
who recorded that “ true Amaryllises only grow in the late 
autumn and through the winter in Europe, while Htppeas- 
trums are under the gardener’s control and may be managed 
to grow at different periods.” 
A great deal has happened since Mr. Beaton concentrated 
his attention on this order of plants, and what was regarded 
as unusual in 1855 is apparent enough now, for a few days 
ago the forest of spikes in the gorgeous collection at Chelsea 
were springing from what cannot be better described than an 
undergrowth of leaves coming up “ half-height ” with the 
flowers. Until within the last year or two the bulbs were 
leafless, and had been leafless for months. They did not 
“ grow in the winter,” but were in a state of complete rest, 
while they were quite under the “ gardener’s control,” and 
could have been forced into growth at the will of the 
cultivator. 
As it is certainly very desirable that flowers should have 
the accompaniment of the foliage of plants producing them, 
an advance has been made in IUppeastrums, for as a rule in 
the case of plants well managed the flower stems are only in 
advance of the leaves about a week or so, and when the 
former are fully developed and the blooms expanded the 
foliage is about half-height. A grand advance has also 
been made in size, substance, and symmetry, with richness 
and diversity of colour; but the other noteworthy virtue 
above alluded to, “ scent,” is lacking. If to the magnificent 
varieties of the present day could be added a “delicious 
sweetness,” hybridisers who have accomplished so much 
would crown their efforts, for it would almost appear as if 
there was little room for improvement in other respects. As 
regards size, a flower 9 inches in diameter, stout in propor¬ 
tion, dazzling in colour, and admirable in form, ought to 
satisfy even persons of an exacting turn of mind. Still, 
experts will strive for something better. If they cannot add 
perfume nor materially enlarge the size of the blooms they 
will not improbably increase their number. A few years ago 
No. 301.— Vol, XII., Third Series, 
215 
many of the then fine varieties only had two flowers on a 
stem. It is true that with larger bulbs and good culture 
some of those varieties subsequently produced three and four 
flowers from one scape ; but there are scarcely any varieties 
that have not more than two flowers now, not a few having 
from four to six, many bulbs throwing up two stems sup¬ 
porting ten and twelve handsome blooms. One plant in the 
collection referred to had fourteen expanded flowers on two 
stems, not so large as some others—indeed, rather small in 
comparison ; but that is of little consequence, for once a new 
“character” is fixed the skilled hybridist is not long in 
making up other deficiencies, such as size and colour. The 
materials are provided, and he may be trusted to turn them 
to the best account; yet when 800 plants are massed, the 
pots plunged closely together in tan in the central bed of a 
span-roofed house, and most of the plants having two stems, 
it cannot be said there is any lack of flowers ; in truth, there 
scarcely appears to be room for more, and no one not having 
seen from 4000 to 5000 of the newest and most handsome 
Hippeastrum blooms grouped together as if forming a vast 
bouquet can form a conception of the extraordinary effect 
produced. 
As an example of the colours and character of the flowers 
a baker’s dozen of varieties may be glanced at as typical, 
not arranged in order of merit, but taken as they stood, in 
passing round the house. Titania, scarlet, deepening to 
crimson, and barred with white; flowers 6 to 7 inches in 
diameter, and models of symmetry: Bomula, crimson, with 
a suffusion of violet; 8 to 9 inches, a magnificent variety: 
Cymba, maroon, shaded purple, barred white, rich and 
striking: Triumphans, dazzling crimson scarlet, immense 
blooms of great substance : Etna, fiery scarlet, with recurving 
segments; flowers 7 to 8 inches in diameter: Juliette, 
stately and splendid, ground white, flaked with crimson and 
scarlet; flowers of great size and substance, probably the 
finest of its type yet raised : Garonne, a fine flower, cerise, 
mingled with rose, rayed white; unique in its way: Diomedes, 
very dark crimson, of velvety richness ; blooms 8 to 9 inches 
across: A. F. Barron, unsurpassed for the intensity of its 
crimson scarlet, and of excellent form and substance: Ancona, 
distinct, crimson, deeply shaded with violet, white rays : 
Emita, white and cerise, flaked; neat and attractive : Dun- 
holme, a wonderful flower, 9 inches across; rich scarlet, 
veined with crimson, barred with white: and, as completing 
the long dozen, one of the smallest, yet richest, dark, free, 
and beautiful, Lord of the Isles, dense, reddish scarlet, 
shading to crimson, and delicately veined. Those will suffice 
to indicate the nature of the display, which extorted from a 
visitor whose long residence in America had enabled him to 
see all that is “great” there, and whose travels made him 
familiar with tropical vegetation, “Well, well! I thought I 
had seen most things worth seeing, but I never dreamt of 
seeing anything like this.” 
After flowering the pots are covered with tan, heat and 
moisture being applied to promote a strong growth of roots 
and foliage, then a warm dry atmosphere is maintained for 
the ripening process, and in the autumn the growth is 
gradually dried, the bulbs resting in a temperature of 50° in 
winter. In the spring they are shaken out, all the old soil 
being removed, repotted in turfy loam in 5 inch to 7-inch 
pots, plunged in a very gentle warmth, and brought steadily 
on in a temperature by artificial means of 55° to 60°. 
That is the treatment in a nutshell, and they are a credit 
to the grower, nursery, and nation.— Experientia docet. 
THE CULTIVATION OF MELONS. 
(Concluded from page 20Q .) 
The restrictive system is the one by which ripe fruits can 
be obtained in less time than with either of the others. It is 
also the easiest and best by which a constant supply can be 
maintained without a break duringtheMelon-growing months, 
No. 1957. —Vol. LXXIV., Old Serie?. 
