a 
56 
AMARYLLIDEAN PLANTS. 
summer-blooming, stove shrub, of erect growth, with dense sessile cordate leaves, somewhat downy beneath, 
arranged in a decussate manner. The axillary clusters of flowers are not showy, they being of a yellowish green 
colour, the coronet purplish brown. It is from the Philippine Islands, and was introduced in 1850 by Messrs. 
Yeitch of Exeter. 
Swammerdamia glomerata, Raoul. Cluster-flowered Swammerdamia.—Order, Asteracese (Composite plants.) 
—A worthless half-hardy evergreen bush, with small roundish leaves, dull green above, and white with down 
beneath, the straggling branches bearing small clusters of white flowers. From New Zealand ; introduced about 
1850. Flowers in spring. 
Mimosa uraguensis, HooJcer and Arnott. Uraguay Mimosa.—Order, Fabaceae (Leguminous plants.)—A 
curious spiny half-hardy shrub, with bipinnate finely-divided shining foliage, and bearing in the summer months 
balls of thread-like flowers of a reddish or brick-dust colour. From the Banda Oriental. Introduced in 1841 by 
the Hon. AV. F. Strangways, to the Horticultural Society of London. 
Arbutus varians, Bentham. Variable Strawberry tree.—Order, Ericaceae (Heathwort trihe.)—Syn. A. 
mollis , Hooker ; A. xalapensis, Lindley.—An evergreen, spring-bloomiDg, greenhouse shrub, with dull green leaves, 
hoary beneath, and having terminal panicles of white and pink urceolate blossoms. From Mexico. Introduced 
by Mr. Hartweg in 1846. 
Gaultheria nummularis, Be Candolle . Moneywort-leaved Gaultheria.—Order Ericaceae (Heathwort tribe). 
—A neat trailing evergreen greenhouse plant. It has roundish, hairy, alternate leaves, and axillary small white 
flowers, hidden by the fob age, and succeeded by reddish purple berries. It is a native of the Himalaya, and was 
introduced to the gardens of her Majesty at Frogmore. 
Catasetum sanguineum, Lindley. Bed-spotted Catasetum.—Order Orchidaceae (Orchid tribe).—A strong¬ 
growing, but not handsome stove perennial, with long pseudo-bulbs, light glaucous green leaves, and close 
racemes of greenish flowers, speckled with brown and dull red. It is from Central America, and was introduced 
by Mr. Linden. It is in cultivation as Myanthus sanguineus. 
Cleisostoma bicolor, Lindley. Two-coloured Cleisostoma.—Order Orchidaceae (Orchid tribe.)—A stove 
epiphyte of little beauty, the stems and leaves of which are not described. The flowers are small, pink, stained 
at the base with dingy purple. From Manilla. Introduced in 1848 by Messrs. Veitch of Exeter. The latter 
have been described in Paxton’s Flower Garden. 
AMARYLLIEEAIY plants. 
¥ E cultivate these plants at Redleaf very successfully, on a simple and inexpensive plan ; and as we 
find them to attract general admiration as an ornament to the conservatory when in flower, a 
succinct detail of our mode may not be unacceptable. 
We preserve them during the greater part of the year in a two-light forcing pit, which is con¬ 
structed on the M’Phail system, that is, the size of the pit being fixed upon, say eight feet by six feet, 
four feet of nine-inch brick-work is built up in the pigeon-hole fashion; on this is built two feet of 
single brick-work, on which rests the frame and lights. An arched entrance is left at one end of the 
pigeon-hole work, and the interior, in the autumn, is jammed full of oak leaves. Linings of leaves are 
also provided at the same time, and these are confined by nine-inch brick-work, eighteen inches from 
the pit at bottom, two feet six inches at top, and four feet six inches in perpendicular depth. It is 
best to sink at least three feet below the ground-line. For the support of the plants, slate slabs are 
laid on the ledge formed by the junction of the nine-inch and single brick-work. 
The culture is very simple and easy. We procure the bulbs in September or October, when quite 
dormant, and pot them in a soil composed of two parts rich friable loam and one part leaf mould, with 
a little silver sand, leaving nearly half the bulb exposed. They are placed in the pit, and no water is 
given. About February, they will begin to throw up the flower stems, when watering may begin, 
and they should be removed to a light part of an early vinery or forcing-house. Just before the 
flowers expand, remove them to the conservatory, and water freely. After the flowering is over, re¬ 
move them back to the pit, and as soon as the leaves begin to turn yellow, gradually withhold water 
until they are again dry and dormant. Top dress in the autumn, and shake out and re-pot every 
second year. 
The linings require to be topped up now and then; and every autumn both the linings and interior 
bed are renewed with fresh leaves. They are covered up securely in severe weather, the same as with 
other plants in cold pits.— John Cox, Gardener to W. Wells, Esq., Redleaf. 
