0 
THE LADIES' FLORAL CABINET. 
Hybrid Amaryllis. 
But little attention lias been paid to the cultivation, or 
rather the hybridization, and growing from seed, of the 
Amaryllis in this country. P. Hansen, Esq., of Brooklyn, 
N. Y., au enthusiast in this line, has the largest collec¬ 
tion, not only as to numbers but in variety, including all 
the rare species to be found in this country. Mr. Han¬ 
sen is an artist who paints for money, but grows his 
bulbs for the pleasure they afford him. To him many of 
our amateurs are indebted for the knowledge that has 
enabled them to grow successfully many of the more 
beautiful sorts, no less than for many choice seedlings, 
he has produced. Our illustration of this flower, in the 
present number, was taken from one of the seedlings 
raised by Messrs. James Veitch & Sons, London, and is 
typical of the hybrid section. We shall make the culti¬ 
vation of the Amaryllis, the subject of another article at 
an early day. 
Amaryllis has been carried on to a great extent, by the 
leading florists in Holland,Belgium, France and England. 
From each country there are annually sent out very 
large numbers of varieties, showing plainly, that labor, 
well applied in this direction, is sure of its reward. 
The species from which the large number of new 
warieties have been produced, and what are now known 
:as hybrids of vittata, are A. Regince, scarlet, a native 
of South America; A. equestris, scarlet, from the same 
country, and A. vittata, a striped variety from the Cape 
•of Good Hope. The good results which proceeded from 
the first efforts at hybridizing, soon brought into the 
field a large number of enthusiasts, and the consequence 
has been that Hybrid Amaryllis have been produced in 
such quantities that the “specialist” in this line, 
whether he grows for pleasure or profit, can, at all 
..seasons, have specimens of rare merit in bloom. 
Kindness is stowed away in the heart like rose leaves 
in a drawer, to sweeten every object around them, and 
to bring hope to the .weary-hearted. 
Happiness is a shy nymph, and if you chase her you 
will never catch her. But just go quietly op and do 
your duty, and she will come to you. 
