The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1895-11-20
For THE FLORAL DEPARTMENT:
Amaryllids in Florida.


growth. bloom and ripen before the rainy
season-June. July and August-and the
dormant bulbs rot from excess of moisture
and heat. But from experience with a
limited number of varieties am certain
that nearly, if not quite, all the species and
varieties of Lilium may be successfully
grown and lowered in this State as pot or
tub plants if stored away from the excessive
rains while dormant We have grown
Lilium candidum and L. karlsruhe
Bermuda Easter lily-in tubs. six or eight
large bulbs to each tub, with the most per-
feet success.
But if we cannot have our yards filled
with the true lilies we have very salts
factory compensation in the Amaryllis
family nearly every species of which thrives
here in the open ground to perfection.
Several species and varieties, both native
and exotic, are cultivated in the yards of
the majority of the residents, and are al
most universally known as "lilies " The
Crinums, Hymenocallis and Amaryllis-or
more properly Hippeastrum--are the gen.
era most extensively grown, though the
Zephyranthes. Nerine. Narcissus, Coop
eria and Agave are all represen ted. Nearly
all are of the easiest culture, in fact few Of
them receive any cultivation whatever. A
hole is dug in the sand, the bulbs dropped
in, covered and left to take care of them
selves. Year after year they increase in
number, sending up a luxuriant crop of
leaves and blooming profusely in their sea-
son. They are rarely disturbed or divided,
and many clumps of Amaryllis will yield
peck of fine blooming size bulbs. while
bushel basket would not hold the bulbs
composing many clumps of CrInum.
| Some of the most beautiful and desirable
members of the Amaryllis family are ma
tives of Florida and are we'll worthy of de-
scription. One of the purest and sweetest
flowers that bloom is the dainty Fairy Lily,
known to botanists as Zephyranthes
Treatia, its specific name given in honor
of Mrs. Mary Treat. its discoverer, an en-
thusiastic botanist and writer. This flower
grows in countless thousands in the fiat
woods of Florida, but no hint of its pres.
ence exists until after the annual fires con-
sumo the mat of pine needles and dead
wire grass which cover the ground. Then,
within few days, as if by magic myriads
of these snowy lilies spring up, their purity
seemingly accentuated by contrast with the
charred and blackened surface of the land.
The flowers are deliciously fragrant each
about three inches across and borne on
scape about foot in height. In some
localities they grow so plentiful that
wagon-load of the blossoms could be gath
cred in short time.
On the coast of the mainland of extreme
South Florida, and on the numerous keys
(islands) in the same region, the Giant |
Spider lily (Hymenocallis [Pancratium]
Carribbaum) abounds and has found its
way into the yards of almost every section
of the State. 1t produces immence umbels |
of often as many as twenty-five flowers,
and nearly always two or more flower scapes
at the same time. The flowers are airy
and fragile appearing and deliciously sweet
scented. In the center of each flower is
beautiful crown or saucer resembling tissue
|