DETERIORATION OF LILIES. 9 



as those existing in the Bermudas will be accompanied with no better 

 results than are found in the Z. harrisii product of the island. A 

 bright future for this plant is predicted, not only on its individual 

 merits but also as a parent, both male and female, from which to raise 

 new forms through crossing with other varieties of Z. longifiorum. 



In the greenhouses of the Department of Agriculture there are at 

 present several combinations between this plant and the most approved 

 forms of Z. harrisii. The plants are still in the seedling stage, but 

 they will be watched with very great interest to determine the results 

 of careful cross fertilization with the other varieties. Although the 

 plants are so small that 100 could easily be put inside of a thimble, 

 they are expected to flower within seven months. 



Some bulbs of this little-known variety which were planted out in 

 the open during the autumn of 1901 along with other Z. longiflorwm 

 and Z. harrWti plants, to test their hardiness and blooming periods 

 and also to learn of their adaptability to the soil of this section, showed 

 that they were not only hardy, but that the blooming period w r as ten 

 daj T s in advance of the earliest of the Z. longifiorum,. The bulbs 

 planted were small and when lifted, during the latter part of August, 

 were found to have increased considerably in size, besides making 

 several small bulbs at the bases of the stems. The soil used is com- 

 posed of friable loam, having been under cultivation a long time, but 

 no manure had been given within two years before planting. Two dry 

 spells occurred during the period of growth and this retarded their 

 development to some extent. 



DETERIORATION OF THE BERMUDA AND JAPAN GROWN LILIES. 



Owing to the frequent and constantly increasing number of com- 

 plaints relative to the diseased condition of the Bermuda and Japan- 

 grown Easter lilies, the growers of this country are confronted with 

 a condition to which considerable attention has already been given 

 with a view to mitigating the troubles with which they have to con- 

 tend in forcing the bulbs into bloom. When it is considered that 

 probably over 5,000,000 lily bulbs are forced into flower during the 

 winter and spring months, it will be seen that the crop is of great 

 value; but notwitstanding all that has been done, the experiences of 

 the principal greenhouse men indicate that the profits are very much 

 curtailed owing to the diseased condition of the plants. 



This disease shows its presence by the leaves becoming more or less 

 discolored and the shape of the leaf altered so as to appear twisted. 

 The flowers also lack the usual form and substance and the whole 

 plant is dwarfed. When in bloom, if it ever reaches that stage, the 

 diseased plant does not bring one-fourth of the price obtainable for a 



