Stout: Sterility in Lilies 



373 



RESULTS OF POLLINATION ARE QUICKLY EVIDENT 



Figure 19. Both of these plants of L. longiflorum are self-incompatible and four 

 crosses with other species likewise failed. The three growing (pods are from other more 

 successful crosses. The photograph was taken about two weeks after the last pollination 

 was made. 



period is very short or is entirely ab- 

 sent. With the death of the top there 

 is usually continued development of 

 the daughter bulbs, and growth of 

 feeding roots. Without doubt the best 

 means of securing healthy and vigorous 

 bulbs, of many species at least, is to 

 grow them locally either from seed or 

 by vegetative propagation, and to trans- 

 plant so that the bulbs are only out of 

 the ground for a short time, when 

 they are most nearly dormant. 



Such excellent varieties as the Easter 

 Lily, the Madonna Lily, Henry's Lily, 

 the Lance-leaved Lily (L. speciosum), 

 and the Regal Lily are readily grown 

 from seed. Frequently blooms may be 



had on seedlings in two years — cer- 

 tainly they may be had in three years. 

 The growing and breeding of lilies 

 from seed presents many interesting 

 possibilities, not only to the commercial 

 growers of bulbs but to the amateur 

 gardener as well. 



In lilies the bulb habit of growth 

 does not in the least affect seed pro- 

 duction. To obtain seed one must 

 either grow self-compatible plants or 

 grow strains that are cross-compatible. 

 When this is done, seed in abundance 

 may readily be obtained except in the 

 relatively few cases of impotence from 

 intersexes or hybridity. 



