10 
THE FLORISTS JOURNAL. 
and if kept shifted from small to larger sized pots, will soon arrive 
at a flowering state. 
Raising new varieties from seed is always an interesting amuse¬ 
ment, as it involves the hope of originating something surpassingly 
beautiful. 
Our accompanying illustration, Amaryllis Victoria snperba is a 
hybrid, from seed of A. vittata superba, impregnated by the pollen 
of A. Johnsonia. This very beautiful variety is from the choice col¬ 
lection of Messrs. T. and C. Lockhart; its deep rich colour, and clear 
stripe running from the base of each petal to the very apex, render 
it a most striking object, and worthy a place in every collection. 
We understand Messrs. Lockhart intend offering it to the 
public next season ; but from the length of time this genus re¬ 
quires to arrive at maturity, the issue will necessarily be limited. 
2. In this stage of our Journal, and at the gay season of the year, 
there are many beauties which present themselves to our notice ; 
nor need we leave the natural order Amaryllacece for attractive 
objects. In this, we find one flower which is, perhaps, more 
heartily welcomed on its first appearance than any other ; we mean 
the lowly Snowdrop (Galanthus nivalis)> but which has now 
retired to its summer repose. We have still, however, the gaudy 
(and common, because gaudy,) family of Narcissus, of which 
seventy-six species are described by botanists, together with above 
twenty varieties. This ornamental family of the spring months 
present a wonderful diversity of size and form ; for between the 
rustic Daffodil, and the sw'eet and slender Jonquil, there are a 
hundred intermediate forms. If we look for the most perfect 
symmetry, united with delicacy of texture, and the purest tints of 
colour, observe only the Poet’s Narcissus, N. poeticus. If we can 
admire disproportion of the floral members, let us examine the 
Hoop-petticoat (N.bulbocodium ), or the mighty Ajax (N.Ajax J, 
blowing his extended trumpet. Again, if we would see a group 
of elegant blossoms on the same stalk, we refer to the admirable 
Polyanthus Narcissus (N. Tazatta), so extensively cultivated by 
professional florists. In short, a collection of Narcissi presents a 
most pleasing spectacle of variety and beauty. No flower requires 
less attention than this ; the more choice sorts, indeed, are usually 
planted in autumn, in prepared beds of sandy loam, leaf mould, 
and thoroughly rotten dung ; but in general they succeed very well 
in any common soil. 
