234 THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN" GUIDE. 



very few amateurs, have any idea of. Who has not seen the noble 

 Lilkim anratum, which has been so much admired at all our 

 shows for some years past ! And this is a hardy plant, as capable of 

 cultivation in the open air, as the American cowslip or the double 

 white rocket. How little do the owners of gardens, with good soil, 

 but with little or no glass, know their privileges. Here, for instance, 

 is a plant which our great nurserymen and gardeners have of neces- 

 sity shown in pots from its scarcity, and from the necessity of con- 

 venient carriage, but the owner of a single perch of good fertile 

 garden ground may grow it to perfection by preparing a spot with a 

 little care, and there it may flourish and increase for years. All the 

 good lilies are hardy. Some of the most beautiful and sweet are" 

 hardly ever seen in private gardens, though these are the very places 

 they are wanted. L. eximium for instance, how many beautiful 

 gardens well suited for its culture may not be passed through before 

 meeting with a tuft of this pure white and very sweet flower, nearly 

 six inches across when w^ell grown ! A hardy, easy to grow plant, 

 too, not more than fifteen inches high or so, or even less, with neat 

 shining leaves and sturdy vigour. Then there is the brilliant chal- 

 cedonicum,^" the Lily of the Field," according to some ; not so rare, 

 it is true, but what so beautiful as its deep crimson blooms, so 

 truly distinct and valuable for association with the white and buff and 

 orange lilies ? It is wonderful the varied splendour that may be met 

 with in this family. I know of no geuus of indoor plants that 

 equals it ! A pure snowy white — the common white lily ; a bright 

 orange — the orange lily of the orangemen of Ireland; a deep 

 scarlet and very dwarf — the Siberian Lilium tenuifolium ; a rich buff 

 cream, the noblest in size and habit of all, perhaps— testaceum (or 

 excelsum as it is sometimes called) ; a dark orange, dotted all over 

 with jet black spots— tigrinum ; a colossal flower with golden bands 

 — auratum ; and white, and spotted and pale lemon yellow, with 

 minute black spots ; and white, with rich purplish red spottings ; and 

 red and ])ure white again;— all hardy and free in good soils, as if wild 

 British plants to the manner born ! 



The fine lancifolium varieties which are generally supposed to be 

 tender and are generally grown iu pots, may be grown finely in the 

 open air, in sandy, free, and well-drained earth, and are so grown, 

 and in quantity, even in Scotland. I have seen nearly a quarter of 

 an acre of this fine species in the open air near Edinburgh, and any 

 reader near that place may do the same by strolling into Messrs. 

 Cunningham and Eraser's Comely Bank nursery. 



That the day will soon come when every lover of out-door 

 gardening will desire to possess a good batch of lilies, I have no 

 doubt whatever. To be admired, they need but be seen in good 

 condition. But the very name is suflficient recommendation to most 

 of us. The season will soo»be at hand when lilies lose their leaves, 

 and go to rest under ground — that is the time to purchase and to 

 plant them, and therefore the present is not the worst time to 

 discuss their culture and capabilities. 



The best way to obtain lilies is to purchase strong roots of the 

 scarcer kinds of the seedsman or bulb-importer, and of the common 



