8 PROPAGATION OF EASTER LILY FROM SEED. 



country was $2,500; in 1895, $40,000. In 1899, however, the figures 

 jumped to $130,000, and the increase during the past three seasons 

 has doubtless made corresponding strides. 



VARIETIES OF LILITJM LONGIFLORUM FROM JAPAN. 



The bulbs imported from Japan are chiefly Z. longiflorum. Among 

 them are several distinct varieties which differ from each other 

 principally in the periods of blooming, but also in foliage, flowers, and 

 general habit. Some have the leaves close together on the stem, the 

 longest and broadest at the base, gradually shortening as the summit is 

 reached. (See PI. II, fig. 1.) Others have broad leaves, not so numerous 

 as in the case of the plant just mentioned and with less difference in 

 breadth and length between those at the base of the stem and those 

 near the apex (PI. II, figs. 2 and 3.) Some of the forms appear to be of a 

 fixed type so far as scarcity of blooms is concerned. This is attributed 

 to seedling stock raised from unselected parentage and the failure to 

 breed continuously from the most desirable of the seedling plants. If 

 this is the case, as there is good evidence to suppose, it is little wonder 

 that the imported stock lacks uniformity in many of the most desirable 

 characteristics. 



Among the numerous forms there is one which shows great supe- 

 riority over the others. In every respect it may be regarded as an 

 ideal lily. It is said to have been found in a certain locality in Japan 

 and named after the place where it was discovered. It is offered by 

 two dealers under the names Z. longiflorum giganteum and Z. longi- 

 jlorum eximeum gigan teum.. It is said to be a difficult subject to propa- 

 gate vegetatively; consequently it is higher priced than any of the 

 others. Some years ago when first sent to this country it was thought 

 to be a natural hybrid between Z. longiflorum and Z. brownii. The 

 leaves of this variety are not as numerous as in some varieties of Z. 

 longiflorum ; they gradually taper from base to summit, but in this 

 respect are not as pronounced as in some other forms. The stem for 

 several inches above the base is of a blackish-brown color. The flowers 

 are graceful in shape, the tube is short, and the diameter across the 

 perianth is large. The texture of the flower is much firmer than that 

 of any other cultivated lily, and the color is of a dazzling clear white. 

 Either on the plant or in a cut state the flowers, by reason of their 

 thick texture, last longer than those of any other form of Z. longiflo- 

 rum. With regard to the time it takes to force, it occupies a position 

 in this respect midway between Z. longiflorum and Z. karrisii. 

 Unfortunately, however, disease is quite as prevalent in this form as 

 in others. Therefore, the propagation of the limited amount of stock 

 available by scales, offsets, or division, and under the same conditions 



