SOWING THE SEEDS. 19 



and copious supply of pollen. The pollinated flower .should not be 

 covered with paper bags. These, as u rule, serve well with other 

 kinds of flowers where artificial pollination is resorted to in keeping- 

 out insects and preventing pollen being brought by other agencies, 

 but in the flowers of Lilium they are usually hurtful, because the 

 atmosphere surrounding the stigma is to a certain extent stagnant on 

 account of the thick texture of the paper interfering with the free 

 admission of air. If this condition is present while the very copious 

 secretion is over the large stigma, some of the pollen grains decay, 

 and the result is that a moldy growth will occur over the entire pol- 

 linated surface. Light gauze or cheese-cloth bags will be found excel- 

 lent substitutes for paper bags. There is little probability of pollen 

 grains being carried about b}* a movement of the atmosphere or the 

 visitations of insects, but it is better to guard against the danger of 

 undesirable pollen gaining access to the stigma. 



In all of the varieties the seed vessels take from eight to ten weeks 

 to reach maturity. This is indicated by a change of color from pea- 

 green to a light straw-colored hue. at first near the apex, then grad- 

 ually extending toward the base. When the basal part changes its 

 color the seeds are ripe. The seed vessel at this stage begins to 

 dehisce, starting at the apex and splitting into three parts, each part 

 containing two rows of seed closely arranged lengthwise. When the 

 vessels begin to open they should be gathered and kept in an uncov- 

 ered receptacle until most of the moisture in the walls of the seed ves- 

 sel has evaporated. In a day or two the seeds must be removed from 

 the capsules. The}^ are then damp to the touch and should not be 

 excluded from the air while in this state, as there is danger of their 

 becoming moldy. Thev should be spread out on trays for a day or so 

 to dry. Afterwards they can be kept in jars until wanted for sowing. 



SOWING THE SEEDS. 



In places having a similar winter climate to that of the Bermudas, 

 or where the minimum temperature does not fall below 45 : ¥., the 

 seedlings may be raised out of doors without the aid of greenhouse 

 structures but with the protection of sash throughout the germinating 

 period and until the plants have made the first three or four leaves. 



The plants can be brought to this stage by the beginning of Septem- 

 ber and transferred to convenient distances apart in beds, where they 

 will make rapid growth. The seeds should be sown in beds in rows 

 from 5 to 6 feet wide. To have the soil in which the seed is to be 

 sown of sufficient warmth to promote a steady growth, there should 

 be at least 3 inches of stable litter and leaves placed in the bottom of 

 the bed. Loamy soil, mixed with one-third vegetable humus, should 



