against the importation of Amaryllis, and larger quantities are now admitted 
under strict inspection. 
Our own breeding efforts at Lakemont Gardens both before and after World 
War II have been aimed to produce a more vigorous strain of hybrid Amaryllis 
with the thrifty growth and good habits of the Mead strain, combined with the 
improved flower, texture and color characteristics of the Dutch and English 
strains. We are now grcwing our third postwar season of these crosses, besides 
seedlings of selected types of both American and Dutch strains, and in a few years 
hope to have the Amarylllis plantings at Lakemont Gardens restored to the full 
glory of pre-war years, when we had 50,000 bulbs growing in beds, and a thousand 
Amaryllis bulbs in flower in our lath house was not an uncommon sight in March 
and April. 
With the coming seasons we are planning to increase our stock of the best 
European types and strains for the Amaryllis growers wanting something better 
than the ordinary bulbs available in the usual American outlets. 
Ludwig Buibs 
It is with particular pleasure that we are able to announce that for the 
second year we will serve as a retail sales representative for the fine named 
varieties of Hybrid Amaryllis and bulbs in “separate shades” of Ludwig & Co., 
the leading Dutch Amaryllis hybridizers, with a record of horticultural achieve- 
ment going back for two generations. 
Ludwig & Co. was mentioned in the 1938 issue of “Herbertia,” by E. H. Krelage, 
noted Dutch bulb authority, in the course of an article on Dutch Amaryllis culture, 
as having a “superior strain of pure whites.” The two Ludwigs, Caspar and 
Ernst, were long important figures in the Dutch Amaryllis picture. Caspar Ludwig 
died some years ago, and since the retirement of Ernst Ludwig 10 years ago, the 
firm has been in younger hands. Their special attention has been paid in recent 
years to the development of outstanding named variety stocks, including such 
remarkable bulbs as “Pink Favorite,” “White Giant,” “Nivalis,” “Early Queen,” 
“Scarlet Leader,” “Red Guard,” “Orange King,” “Fantasy,” “Liberator,” “Salmon 
Joy,” “Mona Lisa,” etc. Prices range upward to $10 and $12 each. 
These are expensive bulbs, and not intended for amateurs growing their 
first bulbs, unless they have the courage and ambition to start their introduction 
to Amaryllis culture with the most beautiful bulbs available. There is a_ less 
expensive group of Ludwig’s named varieties, including Bridesmaid, pure white, 
Ernst Ludwig, dark red, Dutch Gold, copper colored, Mother's Day, salmon and 
violet, Fidelity, rose; Roselinde, rose-pink with light green throat; and Satan, 
bright red. These sell for $5.00 each, retail. These are excellent varieties of 
outstanding merit but not as spectacular and exciting, from the exhibition or 
breeding point of view for the professional grower. 
Most of the Ludwig strain is grown for the professional florist trade, thou- 
sands of the bulbs being exported to Sweden and other parts of the continent as 
forcing stock and for breeding purposes. We are the first Amaryllis firm in the 
United States to our knowledge offering the Ludwig bulbs at retail. We regret 
the necessity of placing high prices on the choice named varieties, which have to 
be propagated vegetatively by the Luyten cuttage method, a slow and costly 
proceeding, as all Amaryllis growers know. In future years as stock increases, it is 
our hope to bring these fine Dutch Amaryllis within the price range of the 
ordinary Amaryllis lover in the United States. 
re 
