CULTURE: Light, sunny to semi-sunny, except that plants in flower can be enjoyed anywhere in the house without permanent harm to the amaryllis. Temperature, average house, except that dry heat shortens flower life. Humidity, average house. Soil, equal parts loam, sand, and peat moss or leaf mold; see above for water requirements. Propagate by removing offsets at repotting time; by sowing fresh seeds in spring or summer. Seedlings reach maturity in two to three years.

   Nerine

   DESCRIPTION: N. bowdenii, 11/2 ft., has pink flowers. N. curvifolia, 1 to 11/2 ft., has brilliant scarlet flowers. Its variety fathergillii has 21/2-in. crimson or salmon-red flowers. N. sarniensis, 2 ft., the "Guernsey lily," has salmon or orange-scarlet flowers. Nerines, all from South Africa, are some of the most beautiful of all flowering bulbs. Bloom from them is possible from late summer into winter. A prominent feature of the blossoms is the manner in which the stamens (usually straight) protrude past the recurving petals.

   CULTURE: Light, sunny. Temperature, coolness, not exceeding 65 °F. in the winter. Humidity, 50% or more. Soil, equal parts loam, sand, peat moss, and leaf mold. Pot any time from August to November, allowing half of bulb to extend above the soil. Plant one to a 4- or 5-in. pot; three in a 6- or 7-in. container. Do not apply water until flower bud or foliage is visible; then keep soil evenly moist and make biweekly applications of house plant food, usually September to May; keep dry and do not fertilize from May to September. In August remove some of the old topsoil and replace with mixture of equal parts of loam, dehydrated manure, and sand. Propagate by removing offsets at repotting time, which is necessary every three or four years.

   Sprekelia

   DESCRIPTION: S. formosissima (sometimes called Amaryllis formosissima), 2 ft., from Mexico and Guatemala, bears handsome crimson flowers that remotely resemble a cattleya, hence "orchid-lily." Other popular names are "Jacobean lily" and "St. James lily." Blooms may appear from March to June, usually preceding the attractive, small, linear leaves which grow 8 to 12 in. long.

    CULTURE: Light, sunny. Temperature, average house February to September; 5O-6o°F. September to February. Humidity, 50% or more, especially after flower bud pushes out of bulb, and until it begins to open. Soil, equal parts loam, sand, and peat moss. Pot in late winter or spring, covering two thirds of the bulb. Keep soil evenly moist from the time growth appears (usually February) until September. Keep dry from September to February. Propagation, top-dressing and repotting as for Nerine.