April 18, 1903. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
Round the Nurseries. 
Amaryllis at Chelsea. 
The name Amaryllis, above given, lias been applied to 
many genera of the order Amaiyllideae, as now understood ; 
but the plants of which tve intend to speak are the Hippeas- 
trums, or Knight’s Stars. For many years past the hybridis¬ 
ing and cross-breeding—chiefly the latter—of the magnificent 
garden race has been carried on by Messrs. J. Yeit-ch & Sons, 
Chelsea, and thither we went last week for the purpose of 
inspecting them. The plants are now at their best, and well 
worthy of a visit to see them. 
A large number of the wild specie® have been crossed at one 
time or other since the first hybrid was accomplished in 1799, 
but' Hippeastrum pardemum and H. Leopoldi are two of the 
more recent that have been, called into requisition. These 
facts have been called to mind by seeing II. pardinum in bloom 
in the collection. This has flowers about 6 in. across and 1J- in. 
across the upper segment. It was the parent of the spotted 
flowers now veiy much out of fashion. Some: of the modern 
flowers measure 9f- in. across, the upper segment being 4 in. 
across, which makes a mighty contrast with the wild or un¬ 
improved species. The introduction of H. Leopoldi, the most 
regular flower of all the species, and therefore nearest the 
florists’ ideal, gave a strong impetus to the work of hybridisa¬ 
tion. It furnished the shape so- much desired, and a garden 
form named Empress of India, supplied the colour. The 
originals have now been left far behind. 
The collection this year was started about the middle of 
February, and soon alter this the temperature was raised to 
60 deg. by night, with a gentle bottom heat, so that the plants 
have come along slowly, and are very dwarf and sturdy. Owing 
to the re-arrangement of the nursery the plants occupy a new 
house. There is no central bed, as in the old one, the pathway 
running down the centre and dividing the house into two. Here 
are located some 1,150 bulbs, all of flowering size. The young 
plants are housed at Felt-ham, a. structure 100 ft. long being 
entirely devoted to them, and furnishing the supply for 
Chelsea. From those in flower we selected only a few of the 
finest and most distinct, but all are worthy of being grown for 
decorative purposes. The range of variation is veiy great, 
though a. pure white is yet a desideratum. Nevertheless, the 
ground colour of several of them is very pure, and if a few 
i streaks of red could be eliminated, the object would have been 
• gained. 
A shapely', round flower is Tempo, of a brilliant dark crirn- 
i son and glossy. The large flowers of Acyrus are of a dark 
port-wine colour, or, in other words, something between 
maroon-crimson and purple, but not correctly described by 
[either. A very choice one is The Favourite, being crimson- 
fscarlet, with white edges and more white on the lower seg¬ 
ments. A large and bold flower is, Brenda, the segments being 
crimson and very hold. Kielmore is scarlet, with a, maroon 
shading un the upper segments. One cf the finest of the dark 
flowers is that named Qleopas, both in the matter of size and 
-olour. The massive segments are deep crimson, with maroon 
shading towards the base. 
Mere size is not always synonymous with the acme of per- 
ect-ion. Some of tire smaller flowers are both shapely and 
sprightly, the two latter terms being applicable to> Digena, 
kith bri" ‘ 
listinet 
'f Merit 
Che- shapely flowers are of a, soft blush-white, shaded with pink 
a places, and lined with crimson on the upper segments. The 
■ sole flower is also' finely bullate or wrinkled, which lends an 
dditional charm to the colour. Epirus is a round flower, with 
ery bread segments, openly funnel-shaped, and brilliant scarlet 
lhant scarlet flowers. One of the prettiest and most 
is Apple Blossom, which was honoured with an Award 
at the last meeting of the Roval Horticultural Sncietv. 
striped with white. A large crimson-red flower is Surprise, 
mottled and netted with white. 
The darkest and blackest of all the varieties is Hailes, which 
may be described as maroon-crimson, with a decided black 
shade along the centre of the segments. Even the outside of 
the flower is of a dark crimson. A wide, open flower is 
Euphrasia, of a glowing crimson, shaded with maroon in tire 
centre. Helena is soft scarlet, with six white rays and lighter 
on the lower half. One of the- best light varieties is Clonia, 
v itli a. clear and pure white ground, and a few scarlet moth 
hugs-, the base being of a pale, soft green. A shapely flower 
is Mildred, with deep rose flowers and a lighter centre. It is 
certainly pretty. 
A yellow Hippeastrum has long been a desideratum, and 
some approach has 1 been made to< it, though no one would yet 
rest satisfied with the! results. One of these is Khaki, having 
a yellowish band along the centre of each segment, and broad 
khaki margins. Even better is 1 The Veldt, of a. soft greenish- 
yellow, with red line® to- the upper segments. It is the best 
yellow hitherto produced, but something better may yet be 
Narcissus Johnstoxi King of Spain. (See p. 339.) 
evolved from it. Last year the IMIS, gave an Award of Merit 
to Queen Alexandra, with bright orange-scarlet flowers, a white 
lacing to- the segments, and certainly veiy pretty. Norley is 
brilliant scarlet, with a maroon centre. -A shapely crimson- 
red flower is Coriolanus. The roseiaud-white flowers of Acila 
are beautifully netted and lined with crimson. 
A colour not hitherto noted is the soft buff-orange hue dis¬ 
played by Lavinia, the white edges of which set off the rest of 
the flower. A wide, open flower is Jugalis, crimson-scarlet, 
with maroon shading in the throat. A very large- and shapely 
flower of a soft clear scarlet, with light centre, is Mrs. Bilney. 
Many other varieties might be named, not much behind the 
foregoing in merit. Indeed, the standard of merit is now veiy 
high, and many of the flowers we have not even mentioned 
would find admirers, and some might even he preferred to those 
we have named. 
