MISCELLANEOUS ARTICLES. 437 



Japan lilies. L. Harrison or Bermuda Easter lily, which is extensively 

 used for forcing, for which purpose select bulbs must be procured if 

 early results are desired. These are so carefully handled and con- 

 trolled by experienced horists as to have a whole house of them bloom 

 on exactly a certain day, generally by Easter Sunday. No rules can be 

 given for this work, as they must have moisture and heat in amount to 

 suit the climate in which they are grown. Experiment is most reliable 

 for every locality. Pot them off in October, and keep a daily record of 

 heat, moisture, soil and treatment, and after a couple of years they can 

 be controlled so as to bloom at a certain, fixed time. L. Auratum needs 

 but little fertilizing, and ordinary light soil, with no manure, suits it 

 best. For out-door culture these bulbs of all lilies should be placed 

 at least six inches deep in the soil, and when winter comes on a slight 

 protection is best of some leaves or strawy manure. For pot culture, 

 place rather deep in five-inch pots in September, October or Novem- 

 ber, using a compost of half-rotted sods, one-fourth well-rotted manure 

 and one-fourth sound ; put out of doors in a bed where water will not 

 stand and cover over with ground or sawdust about three or four 

 inches deep, and leave till cool weather sets in or they start to grow 

 freely. Bring into a cool place in the house or green-house, and bring 

 them up gradually to sixty degrees. Water sparingly until the buds 

 show. 



CYCLAMEN. 



We desire to call the attention of lovers of flowers to this beauti- 

 ful, fragrant and useful winter-blooming plant. It is only withiu recent 

 years since the inter-crossings with Cyclamen Persicum, that many im- 

 proved varieties have brought this beautiful plant into general notice. 

 Florists this year are giving it considerable notice and recommend it 

 as a highly desirable winter-blooming bulb. The Giant Cyclamen pro- 

 duces a large head of showy flowers of a lovely white, shading to 

 amber and smoky pearl, tipped with carmine. It is planted in pots in 

 soil as recommended for lilies placed out-doors for a couple of weeks, 

 till started, when it is brought in-doors, and in six weeks from the time 

 of potting they will likely bloom. They will not bear too heavy water- 

 ing. If they are to be planted out-doors in beds, they are most effect- 

 ive in groups of one sort, of from three to a dozen or more in a group. 

 They are also very handsome for borders under the windows, or in 

 window boxes, vases, rustic baskets, raised mounds, etc. They should 

 not be disturbed under two years. Plant a couple inches deep in 

 October or November. They are sold at ten cents each or one dollar 

 per dozen by mail. 



