VALLOTA (named after Pierre Valot, a French botanist, who wrote a description of the Royal Gardens in 1623). ORD. Amaryllideae. A monotypic genus. The species is a beautiful, greenhouse, bulbous plant. It requires a soil composed of good, fibrous loam, leaf mould, and sand, in equal parts. The bulbs should be placed from 6in. to 8in. below the level of the surface of the soil, and surrounded with sand, after which they may be covered with the compost, which should be pressed firmly around them. They should not be disturbed for years, and will ultimately establish themselves and produce grand masses of blossom. The best season for planting a fresh stock is June and July, when they commence root action before the flower-stems are sent up. If the surface of the soil in which the bulbs are planted be covered with green Saxifrage or Sedum, it will give a very neat and pleasing appearance when the plants are in flower. During their growing season, and in dry weather, an occasional soaking of water or liquid manure will prove very beneficial to Vallotas. VALLOTA purpurea (purple).* Scarborough Lily. fl. 3in. to 4in. long, several in an umbel, sessile or shortly pedicellate; perianth red, funnel-shaped, straight, erect, the tube short, the throat enlarged, the lobes oblong-ovate, connected at base by a small callus; stamens erect, equal; involucral bracts two or three, membranous; scape robust, fistular, 2ft. to 3ft. high. May. l. equalling the scape, lanceolate-linear, entire, obscurely reticulate-veined. South Africa, 1774. (R. H. 1870, 50.) VALLOTA purpurea eximia (choice).* fl. of the same shade of colour as in the type, 4in. across, chiefly distinguishable for the white throat, with crimson feather, not unlike what is seen in some varieties of Gladioli. (F. M. ser. i. 225.) VALLOTA purpurea magnifica (magnificent). This is hardly distinct from VALLOTA p. eximia, though its raisers consider it larger, brighter in colour, and a more robust grower than any other. It was exhibited with flowers 5in. across. (Gn. xxx., p. 245.) VALLOTA purpurea major (greater). fl., perianth reddish-scarlet, the throat hyaline-fenestrate; anthers longer. SYN. Amaryllis purpurea (B. M. 1430). VALLOTA purpurea minor (lesser). fl., perianth cherry-red, the throat opaque-fenestrate; anthers shorter. (B. R. 552.)