This, one of the most beautiful of all the family, rarely blooms. We continually see plants without having seen a flower for years. A correspondent of the Garden tells how he treats it, and his experience may be of value to American growers :

" It is stated in old books that the easiest way of flowering this Amaryllis in this climate is to keep it in pots, which may be placed under a close glass frame in August till it flowers; after that it should be plunged in the open border, or the pots may be kept in an airy greenhouse during winter and placed in a stove without water at midsummer. This agrees with the practice followed many years ago by an old gardener of my acquaintance. He obtained imported Dutch roots as soon as they could be had - about the early part of September, and then potted them singly in 4 1/2-inch pots, using a compost made up of loam, sand and manure, in equal parts. Freshly imported bulbs will be certain to flower, and when they have done blooming they commence to grow; they were then shifted into good sized pots, using such a compost as that just named. Then a few short stakes were placed round the pots and matting tied round them to keep the leaves from injury; then they were placed in any suitable spot where plenty of light fell on them, and watered when required. In such a place the bulbs remained until spring, when more space was afforded them, and they were treated to plenty of light, water and heat.

As soon as the foliage began to decline water was discontinued, but extra heat was given and as much light as possible, and so until the leaves had decayed, when the pots were removed to a dry shed and there allowed to remain until the blooming season came round again. As soon as coming activity manifested itself, the bulbs were placed in the stove, and every one of them blossomed. To have extra fine specimens he would sometimes place six or eight bulbs in a large pot, and found that they flowered well and were highly effective. I have heard many complaints that this charming Belladonna Lily is very shy of bloom, but this is surely a misconception, and must result from unsuitable treatment".