98 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Flowers are sent to the world ; they are not confined to one part 

 of the earth, as we are not contined to one part of the earth, as we will 

 see in studying the sarainer flowering bulb, but the whole earth has 

 its complement of blossom and fragrance. 



As time and lack of knowledge would not permit us to even name 

 all, we look at some of the most common yet popular of the llowers. 



The name Lily is symbol of all that is fairest, sweetest and bestiu 

 the world. It is admired, not only on account of its beauty, but we 

 are told by the highest teacher, to ''consider the lilies how they grow." 

 It drinks in heaven's sweetness in light, air, dew and rain, and unfolds 

 its own loveliness in quietness and peace. It grows from within its 

 own life, pushing out, until its beauty is most charming. So we from 

 it are taught to grow, having within us the divine life to be developed 

 in our character and spirit. 



The number of varieties is almost without end, from every part 

 of the temperate and tropical world, and of every color of the rain- 

 bow, excepting green, perhaps. There are fully 150 varieties of lilies 

 under cultivation, the best varieties coming from Europe, India, Japan 

 and America. 



The earliest cultivation is described in 1597, yet we may believe 

 that it was known many years previous to this, for 



"Solomon, with gorgeous robes, we're told, could not compare 

 With the Lily of the Valley, with their modest dress so fair. ' ' 



The White lily has been long cultivated in gardens, and much sung 

 by poets. It has large, erect, pure-white flowers, as much prized for 

 their fragrance as for their beauty. 



The Tiger lily, a native of China, yet some very fine species are 

 found growing in marshes in the United States: has a stem 6 to 8 feet 

 high and reflexed orange flowers, spotted with black. 



Before the main entrance of the Horticultural hall at the World's 

 fair an artificial lily pond attracted those who found an interest in 

 aquatic plants. There were water lilies of various colors on exhibi- 

 tion, while on either of the walks large beds of red and yellow Oannas 

 enlivened the view. 



Their culture is very simple, and with little care failure is almost 

 impossible. Bulbs should be planted in fail, if possible, or in spring 

 as soon as frost is out of ground ; the earlier the better. 



The Gladiolus is one of the most showy and attractive of the sum- 

 mer flowering bulbs. There are about 90 species described, and are 

 found in Africa, Southern and Central Europe, and in Persia, while one 

 species is found apparently wild in England. 



