1870.] NOTES ON LILIES. 453 



notes onsr lilies. 



The varied beauty of form and colour in the many species comprised 

 in the genus Lily, and the sweet fragrance which some of them possess, 

 combine to make one wonder why they are not more generally seen 

 in our gardens. 



I can well remember the beauty of some kinds that were common 

 in cottage gardens years ago — the elegant tall white L. candidum, 

 the orange Lily (L. aurantiacum) so dear to northern Ireland, the 

 Tiger Lily (L. tigrinum), the Turk's Cap (L. martagon), &c. These 

 are all worth growing, but there are some kinds of more recent intro- 

 duction which are equally hardy and easy of cultivation. 



One section contains L. longiflorum, L. eximium, and L. Take- 

 sima, all dwarf-growing species and varieties, with large white bell- 

 shaped flowers of exquisite odour. L. longiflorum is most common; 

 L. eximium, when it can be obtained true, will be found to differ from 

 it in having longer and more elegantly-shaped flowers ; while L. 

 Takesima is of a more robust habit, with black stems and larger 

 flowers. An allied species is known as L. Brownii or Japonicum 

 verum. This grows to about 4 feet, and has flowers of a creamy white 

 shaded outside with dark brown. In my opinion it surpasses those 

 previously mentioned in beauty. 



Another section includes the varieties of L. umbellatum, sold under 

 many different names, according to colour, which varies from" pale citron 

 to a rather dull crimson, plain or more or less spotted with darker 

 colour. The flowers are bell-shaped, the odour scarcely perceptible, 

 or slightly unpleasant. 



In another section the flowers have the petals reflexed like the old 

 Turk's Cap Lily, and this section contains species which vary much in 

 their other characters. Among them are the following : — 



L. tenuifolium, a small kind with slender leaves and scarlet flowers, 

 very elegant. 



L. Canadense or superbum, a plant of elegant habit, with pale 

 orange flowers spotted with black. 



L. excelsum, L. testaceum, and L. carneum are various names 

 under which I have bought a Lily of very strong growth (about 5 feet 

 in height) with buff flowers and crimson stamens. It is very hardy, 

 and the bulbs increase rapidly. It is one of the finest of Lilies. I 

 have not found it to be sweet-scented, as it is stated to be in some of 

 the catalogues. 



The varieties of L. lancifolium are well known for their beauty 

 and sweetness ; they do well in the open ground, as does L. auratum, 

 w r hich may now be procured at a moderate price. 



2 G 



