HIPPEASTRUM  , in

botany, a genus of the natural order Amaryllidaceae, containing about so species of bulbous plants, natives of tropical and sub-tropical South America . In cultivation they are generally known as Amaryllis . The handsome funnel-shaped flowers are borne in a cluster of two to many, at the end of a short hollow scape . The species and the numerous hybrids which have been obtained artificially, show a great variety in size and colour of the flower, including the richest deep crimson and blood-red, white, or with striped, mottled or blended colours . They are of easy culture, and free-blooming habit . Like other bulbs they are increased by offsets, which should be carefully removed when the plants are at rest, and should be allowed to attain a fair size before removal . These young bulbs should be potted singly in February or March, in mellow loamy soil with a moderate quantity of sand, about two-thirds of the bulb being kept above the level of the soil, which should be made quite solid . They should be removed to a temperature of 6o° by night and 7o° by day, very carefully watered until the roots have begun to grow freely, after which the soil should be kept moderately moist . As they advance the temperature should be raised to 7o° at night, and to 8o° or higher with sun heat by day . They do not need shading, but should have plenty of air, and be syringed daily in the afternoon . When growing they require a good supply of water . After the decay of the flowers they should be returned to a brisk moist temperature of from 7o° to 8o° by day during summer to perfect their leaves, and then be ripened off in autumn .

Through the

winter they should have less water, but must not be kept entirely dry . The minimum temperature should now be about S50, to be increased 1o° or 15° in spring . As the bulbs get large they will occasionally need shifting into larger pots . Propagation is also readily effected by seeds for raising new varieties . Seeds are sown when ripe in well drained pans of sandy loam at a temperature of about 65° . The seedlings when large enough to handle are placed either singly in very small pots or several in a pot or shallow pan, and put in a bottom heat, in a moist atmosphere with a temperature from 6o° to 70° . H . Ackermanni, with large, handsome, crimson flowers—itself a hybrid—is the parent of many of the large-flowered forms; H. equestre (Barbados lily), with yellowish-green flowers tipped with scarlet, has also given rise to several handsome forms; H. aulicum (flowers crimson and green), H. pardinum (flowers creamy-white spotted with crimson), and H. vittatum (flowers white with red stripes, a beautiful species and the parent of many varieties), are stove or - warm greenhouse plants . These kinds, however, are now only regarded as botanical curiosities, and are rarely grown in private or commercial establishments . They have been ousted by the more gorgeous looking hybrids, which have been evolved during the past loci years . H . Johnsoni is named after a Lancashire watchmaker who raised it in 1799 by crossing H .

Reginae with H. vittatum . Since that

time other species have been used for hybridizing, notably H. reticulatum, H. aulicum, H. solandriflorum, and sometimes H. equestre and H. psittacinum . The finest forms since 188o have been evolved from H . Leopoldi and H. pardinum . (J .