THE FLORIST. 
239 
AMARYLLIDS. 
In cultivating Hippeastrums from seeds, a list of the imported bulbs 
\vhich I found best for hybridising, and some remarks on preserving 
the bulbs during their period of rest, may prove interesting. 
When residing at Highclere, I gained much experience in the 
cultivation of Amaryllids. The late Earl of Carnarvon, like his 
brother, was a great admirer of this beautiful tribe, and constant 
exchanges between the seedlings raised by the late Dean of Man¬ 
chester at Spofforth and Highclere took place. We endeavoured 
always to have our show of bloom at the time his lordship was 
expected in the country, viz. at Easter and Whitsuntide ; and at those 
times we had plenty of visitors to the garden to examine our Hip¬ 
peastrums, which appeared like a gorgeous bed of tulips, but, if pos¬ 
sible, were more varied in colour, and many of them were very fra¬ 
grant. The strong-growing varieties, each of which had two flower¬ 
ing stems to a bulb, nearly four feet high, intermixed with the small 
growing sorts, such as H. splendens, &c. &c., formed a truly beauti¬ 
ful effect, which (^nly required to be seen to be admired. I fear, 
however, that many of the fine varieties then in cultivation are now 
lost, and can only be again obtained by commencing anew. Some 
of the original bulbs raised at Highclere are still in excellent health 
at Syon. 
A short time ago, on examining the bottom heat in one of Mr, 
Beck’s glass-houses at Isleworth, I could not help wishing that, with 
a pit so heated, I had an opportunity to commence growing Hip¬ 
peastrums again; for, with such means, and having the imported 
varieties mentioned below, I could, in the course of two or three years, 
have a splendid collection of flowering bulbs. 
The principal varieties which formed the basis of our stock were— 
Hippeastrum reginse, H. equestre, H. solandrmflorum, H. striatum, 
H. miniatum, H. rutilum, H. fulgidum, H. vittatum superbum, 
H. crocatum, H. psittacinum, H. calyptratum, H. stylosum, H. 
striatifolium, H. pulverulentum, H. aulicum platypetalum. H. vit¬ 
tatum superbum, crossed by Reginse, produces beautiful varieties of 
the H. Johnsoni; this again, fertilised by Johnson!, produces splendid 
flowers. Seedlings from Johnsoni, by Rutilum, are of a most bril¬ 
liant colour, well deserving the name of Splendens, which was given 
them by the late Dean of Manchester : they flower very freely. Seed¬ 
lings from Johnsoni, by Psittacinum, are truly beautiful, and Psittaci¬ 
num, or any of those seedling varieties, crossed with Striatifolium, 
produce lovely delicate flowers, traced like net-work. 
Great care should be observed in drying the bulbs, so as not to 
allow the least appearance of mildew to take place during their time 
of rest. I have lost many fine sorts through a little neglect in this 
way. All the varieties by Striatifolium produce fine flowers. Johnsoni, 
by Solandraeflorum, produces fine varieties, some of them beautifully 
striped, and a few quite red or pink, but all with the shape of Solan- 
draeflorum. Equestre, crossed with any of the varieties, brings forth 
fine flowers. Indeed, all the sorts named, and some since that time 
