THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 89 



for sowing, being one month more than in California. Some sorts 

 ripened here in August. The stalks reached to ten feet, a height 

 only excelled in rich tropical soils. Where several sprang from the 

 same root, the ears ripened soonest. Experiments were made in 

 hybridizing, with some results, and also in mutilating the male 

 panicle of flowers, with a view to increase the size of the ear. After 

 several generations of mutilated plants had been experimented upon, 

 it was found that the ears were increased sensibly in size. The pro- 

 duce of seed was at the rate of ninety-five bushels the acre, gathered 

 as it was, not from selected plants, but from numerous varieties, 

 some being too small. 



Kemarks on the Varieties. — The pure white Maize from 

 Georgia is the most delicate for table use ; it ripened this season 

 at the end of September, and is an early sort, and the most valuable 

 in every respect. The Improved Common Yellow and the Giant 

 Ked are also good. It remains only to add that seed for sowing can 

 be obtained in gardens in warmer districts, and always from such 

 places as the Channel Islands ; while Maize, to be eaten green in the 

 autumn, can be grown anywhere with common attention. The same 

 may be said of its use for foliage. 



HOME- GEO VN LILT OF THE YALLEY. 



BY A MARKET GROWER. 



jfLTHOUGH the Lily of the Valley is a favourite amongst 

 all classes, and has been cultivated both in pots and 

 in the open ground from time almost immemorial, it 

 appears that its culture, speaking in a general manner, 

 is not well understood. Even at public exhibitions it 

 is seldom that more than sixty per cent, of the plants are shown in 

 a satisfactory condition. They are either all flowers or all foliage, 

 instead of having equal proportions of both. The causes of these 

 defects are not far to seek, and can be easily explained. The 

 deficiency of foliage is due to their having no new roots, and to 

 forcing them in too much heat, and the deficiency of flowers is due 

 to the bulbs being immature. It is not, however, my intention to 

 say much about their management in pots, as I am anxious to deal 

 more especially with their cultivation prior to their being potted up 

 for forcing. The reason for my being desirous of directing especial 

 attention to this part of the subject is to show that we are not only 

 independent of the Dutch growers for the bulbs, but that more 

 satisfactory results can be obtained from those grown in the culti- 

 vator's garden, because they can then be potted at the right moment. 

 As a large grower for Covent Garden, I find it more profitable to 

 grow my own bulbs, although the rent paid for the ground is simply 

 t normous. Surely, then, those who have a garden attached to their 

 residence would find it more economical to grow their own bulbs, 

 because, excepting a few shillings for manure, they cost practically 



