1873.] GAEDEN LILIES. CHAPTER I. 13 



Eegarding the bliglit, I liave seen more or less of it annually ever since the 

 first visitation in 1845, and still lean to my first opinion that the malady is the 

 effect of a parasitic fungus or mildew on the tops of the potatos, which is infec- 

 tious and of hidden growth, like all the numerous kinds of mildew. Now as 

 potatos seem to inherit the disease, it may always appear, more or less, according 

 to the state of the weather and the situation and soil on which the potatos are 

 gro^vn, A late or second crop of early kidney potatos, the tops of which were 

 not up until the middle of September, kept free from blight ; but I consider such 

 crops to be of little use, because they are liable to suffer from early frosts. I am 

 aware of what scientific men have advanced on the subject of this malady, but I 

 think I have said enough to indicate that there is no certain cure for it ; and that we 

 can only trust to the return of more genial seasons to prevent or, at least, to 

 check the sad calamity. — J. Wighton, Cosset/ Park. 



GARDEN LILIES.— Chapter I. 



WITH COLOUEED FIGUEE OF LILIUM TIGEINUM LISHMANNI. 



Lilies have always been favourites amongst garden flowers, though from the 

 alternations of taste in floral matters they were, perhaps, a few years since, 

 less generally esteemed than they were in days of yore. At the present 

 time a revival of the fancy for them has evidently set in with so much 

 fervour, that there can be httle doubt they will again become exceedingly popular. 

 None of the true LUies are indigenous, but we find that so early as the sixteenth 

 century seven kinds had found their way into English gardens ; these were 

 Lilium bulbifeimm, umbellatum^ candidum, croceum,, chalcedoniciim., Martagoa, and 

 Plirenaicum. The seventeenth century added L. canadense and jwinponium ; during 

 the eighteenth century our gardens were enriched by L. Catesbcei, 2^^^^^'^delphicrim, 

 spectabile, and siiperbinn, and many others were added in the first quarter of the 

 nineteenth century. Gerard in 1597 gives rude figures of the seven Lilies which 

 had been introduced in his day ; and his editor, Johnson, in 1636 adds figures of 

 ten more, making seventeen in all, some of which are doubtless now regarded as 

 mere varieties. Miller in his edition of 1771 mentions thirteen distinct species 

 as being then in cultivation ; and as a proof that the flower had by that time 

 been brought fairly under the dominion of cultivators, it may be remarked that 

 he notes three varieties of the White Lily (L. candidum)^ " which have accidentally 

 arisen from culture," one of these having variegated leaves, and another double 

 flowers. Of the Orange Lily (L. bulbiferum), Miller mentions also three varieties 

 " obtained by culture "; while of the Fiery Bulb-bearing Lily (L. kuviile) he 

 alludes to four varieties ; and of the " Martagon " Lily (L. poviponiim) to no 

 fewer than seven varieties. Of this latter plant, indeed, he remarks that " in the 

 gardens of the florists, particularly those in Holland, they make a great variety, 

 amounting to the number of thirty or upwards," a small proportion of them only 

 being known in England. 



Li recent times the Lilies have been made the subject of learned dissertations 



