TH E A M 1:R I CA X RrvP A X I ST 75 



ten existing on the earth. From this (Mie may (h-a\v the coii- 

 chisidix that the lirst phiiit may ha\e receivetl its start in Hie 

 through some siieh process. 



Growing 1{astf,r Liijrs from Skkds. — Several lilies are 

 known as Easter lilies t'rdni their u>e at Easter, hut the one 

 usually referred t(» when the florist uses this term is a white- 

 tluwcred species from Ja[)an known as Liliimi longifloritm. 

 The common white or Easter lily of northern gardens is Lil- 

 iiini candiduin, hut it hlooms too late for luister and is more 

 frequently called Madonna lily or Annunciation lily. This 

 latter species is quite hardy but L. lougifloniin is less resist- 

 ant. It is, however, hardy as far north as Washington and 

 experiments made recently indicate that it might be profita- 

 ble to grow it out-doors as a commercial enterprise. Seeds 

 sown in the greenhouse early in January produced plants that 

 were ready to go into the ground by April or May and several 

 of these flowered before the autumn frosts. A few pro- 

 duced as high as a dozen blossoms on a stem. At the 

 end of summer the bulbs measured from six to eight inches 

 in circumference and when removed to the greenhouse gave 

 as good blossoms as those grown from ini[)orted bulbs. Bulb- 

 lets from which a new stock oi bulbs may be produced are 

 found on the stem near tlie surface oi the ground and even 

 the scales broken from the old bulbs when digging may be 

 planted like seeds and will soon produce new bulblets. Sec- 

 tions of the stem, treated as layers, will also produce bull)- 

 lets. If desired the old bulbs may be left in the ground over 

 winter but they are generally Ud<en up, potted, and brought 

 into bloom. The\- have been held in cold storage for at least 

 two years and then have given a good account of themselves 

 in producing flowers. 



