REVIEWS. 
A/VWVW 
Bulbs increase in size and store lip matter only during the period in which they have leaves; the 
quantity and quality of it will, therefore, depend on the health, vigour, size, and number of these, 
and the length of time they continue to operate, which they do most efficiently when young and 
under the influence of bright sunlight. Every attention should, therefore, be paid to keep the 
leaves in a healthy, active state as long as possible. 
When flowers are required during the winter, the bulbs should be introduced into the hothouse 
early in the autumn. As Amaryllises generally flower early in the season, there will sometimes be 
a little difficulty at first to keep them back till winter. The way I manage is this. Supposing a 
bulb to flower this year in May, no attempt having previously been made to retard it; I next season 
retard its flowering till autumn, and the season following till winter. By this plan, and having a 
good stock of bulbs, there is not the slightest difficulty in having them in flower all the winter through. 
If the soil be very dry when the bulbs are first brought into heat, an excellent plan to adopt is, to place 
the pots in a tub of water for half an hour, after this they will not require much water for some time. 
The flower stems and leaves will soon show themselves, and as they increase water must be given more 
freely. If the bulbs contain plenty of organized matter, they will only require a little heat and water, 
with exposure to light to produce their flowers. As soon as these are fully expanded, the plants should 
be removed to the conservatory or drawing-room, which they will adorn for a month or six weeks. 
After they have done flowering they should be potted, no matter what season of the year ; the leaves 
are then in healthy action, and when placed in large-sized well drained pots, in the soil recommended, 
carefully watered, and placed in a good heat fully exposed to the light, they will grow most luxuri¬ 
antly, and the bulbs will increase in a proportionate degree: they will become magazines replete with 
organized nutritive matter, and will produce the following season magnificent flowers. When the 
leaves naturally show symptoms of ripeness or decay, water must be gradually withheld; and when 
fairly decayed, the pots should be placed in a dry, airy situation, where neither frost nor rain can reach 
them ; here they may remain till the time for starting them again comes round. It may be objected 
that plants flowering during the winter will not, under any treatment, store up as much highly or¬ 
ganized matter as plants flowering during May or June. Plants flowering at the latter time will have 
all the advantage of bright sunlight for storing up nutritive matter, which will be, without doubt, 
more highly organized than that stored up by plants flowering during winter. But the leaves con¬ 
tinue to operate for a much longer time on plants flowering in winter than on those flowering in sum¬ 
mer ; by this means as great an amount of nutritive matter is stored up by the former as by the latter, 
though, perhaps, not quite so high ly organized. But the advantage of having these magnificent flowers 
in winter is more than an equivalent for any loss. 
The following list includes some of the finest varieties in cultivation :— 
A. aulica platypetala. A. insignis. 
A. Acramanii. A. intermixta. 
A. Acramanii pulcherrima (splendid). A. intermixta augusta, 
A. delicata. A. lineata. 
A. intermedia latipetala. A. marginata conspicua. 
A. Jordoni. A. marginata venusta. 
A. Johnsoni. A. magnifica perfecta. 
I may perhaps mention two firms that are very rich in Amaryllises—the Messrs. Knight and Perry, 
of Chelsea, and the Messrs. Garraway, Mayes, and Co., of the Bristol Nursery; the latter gentlemen 
possess the most extensive and valuable collection in Britain; and Mr. Mayes having devoted much 
time and attention to this lovely genus, has been the successful raiser of very many of the finest varie¬ 
ties in cultivation. 
A. picta. 
A. reticulata. 
A. refulgens. 
A. sanguinea. 
A. venosa grandiflora. 
A. vittata pallida. 
Jlrmrms, rati jMm. 
The Rudiments of Botany : a Familiar Introduction to 
the Study of Plants. By Arthur Henerey, P.L.S., 
&c., &c. London : Tan Voorst. Pp. 250. 
A small manual of pocket size, intended for persons 
commencing the study of Botany. It is the best “ First 
Book of Botany” we have seen, both in its plan and 
execution; the learner being led on, step by step, in a 
direction, which, to our minds, seems clear and easy 
of access, and is instructed in the rudiments of the 
science in elegant, yet simple and popular,language, 
admirably aided by a number of small but expressive 
wood-cut illustrations. "We have selected, as a specimen 
extract, a passage in which the bearing of the facts of 1 
the science upon the practical duties of gardening is 
shown in a very interesting way. After explaining 
the nature and characters of buds , Mr. Henfrey goes on 
to remark :—- 
“That the buds are to a great extent independent of one 
another is shown in the common operations in gardening, where 
plants are multiplied by separating the stem into pieces, each 
