we have tested Amaryllis from at least a dozen fine strains, some raised from seed, 
others obtained as bulbs. Of these, possibly the most nearly satisfactory was a smali 
lot of bulbs raised from seed obtained from) the San Souci palace greenhouse collec- 
tion at Potsdam before the war, through a German seed dealer. Probably the parents 
of these Amaryllis are lost in Germany today. We have used this blood in our hybrids 
because of its fine colors, good shapes and steady vigorous growth in ground beds. 
During the war when we were unable to maintain our Amaryllis cultures for five 
years, we lost our own parent bulbs from the unavoidable neglect. However, the 
“blood line’? remains in some of our hybrids with the Mead strain stock which have 
survived, 
Because of this war-time difficulty, our own collection is still in the process of 
restoration to previous condition, when Lakemont Gardens was known over Florida 
as outstanding for Amaryllis. During the war years, the Dutch growers were most 
fortunate, and were able to improve and multiply their stocks of hybrid Amaryllis in 
separate colors by the thousands. They have also propagated a number of ‘named 
varieties for fanciers, which should be absolute tops in quality Amaryllis today. 
It is a pleasure to announce that Lakemont Gardens has been accorded the privi- 
lege of serving as a retail sales outlet for Ludwig & Co.’s fine Holland Amaryllis, both 
separate colors and named varieties. We are assured a limited number of the bulbs 
by color, dark red, scarlet, pure white, orange, salmon, striped and pink. The pinks 
and pure whites are sold only in combinations with equal quantities of the other 
colors, because stocks of these rare shades are still low. Ludwig & Co. is one of 
the leading Amaryllis specialists on the continent, and long known for their hybrids 
in the Holland bulb trade. 
The culture of the hybrid Amaryllis is simple. Any good, loamy soil, with some 
sand and part well-rotted cow manure suits them. Give them good drainage and a 
soil reaction around neutral. They must have this good drainage, and an inch of 
broken crocks, crushed rock or pebbles should be placed in the bottom of the pots. 
A fertile, garden loam, not too heavy, with scme coarse sand, and % well rotted 
cow manure added, proves a good growing mixture. If the soil is acid, ground lime- 
stone, hardwood ashes, or fine oystershell, as sold for baby chicks, may be added, as 
much as a handful of the limestone or shell to a pot sometimes. 
Size of a bulb has little to do with the quality of the bloom in Amaryllis. A 
2% to 3 inch diameter bulb is usually satisfactory for the beginner, and is less ex- 
pensive. With good culture the bulbs will sometimes grow to five inches in diameter, 
but some of the loveliest bulbs we have ever seen never exceeded 2% inches, or 
barely reached that. 
Plant bulbs on receipt in a six or seven inch pot, spreading the roots through the 
potting soil as well as possible if any remain on the bulb. Have the bulb % in the 
soil, in pot culture, and water sparingly until the spring growth starts. Usually the 
bud starts to show with the first warm spell of late winter. Keep the bulbs warm 
and in a sunny location, but do not let them dry out. After blooming, more water 
can be given, but no more than to keep the soil slightly moist, never soggy. A solu- 
ble fertilizer like Hy-Gro may be given in solution to the bulbs every two weeks 
during the growing season of late spring and summer, in place of the ‘“‘manure water”’ 
of the old-time greenhouse growers. . 
The bulbs in their pots may be set out in the yard during the summer, with 
pots sunk to the brim. They like at least part shade and protection from driving 
winds and rains. Seeds may be raised by pollinating the pistils of individual flowers, 
preferably with pollen from another bloom. The seeds are black and papery, about the 
size of a five cent piece, and are easily grown in a flat or pot of sandy loam, planted 
flat-wise, and %4 inch deep. The true test of an Amaryllis expert’s skill is to grow 
the bulbs from seed to flowering size. Also to bloom a bulb year after year con- 
tinuously. 
There is an excellent article about Amaryllis culture in the Flower Grower maga- 
zine for October, 1948. Please remember that the chances for error in the color of 
an Amaryllis bulb all the way from the sowing of the seed in Holland to the bulb 
fan in America are tremendous, and don’t blame us too severely for apparent mis- 
takes in shades. We do the best we can, but errors of this kind are found in the best 
Holland growers’ stocks from time to time. Also the ideas of color vary in different 
people, and what may be dark red to one is only crimson to another, and “‘pinks’’ may 
range from pale reds to raspberry blush colors. Named varieties, of course should be 
reliably true to color and description. 
