AN ENCYCLOPADIA 
Fe 
OF HORTICULTURE. 265 
Liliacez— continued. 
polymorphous, cauline, or radical. Root bulbous tuberous, 
fibrous-fascicled, or with a creeping rhizome. Liliaces 
are remarkable for the beauty of their flowers. The 
following is a selection of the principal genera cul- 
vivated for ornament: Agapanthus, Fritillaria, Funkia, 
Hemerocallis, Hyacinthus, Lilium, Methonica, Scilla, 
Tulipa, Urginea, &. Urginea furnishes a large bulb, 
which is used medicinally under the name of Squill. Cer- 
tain species of Aloe yield an extremely bitter resinous 
juice, much employed in medicine. The genus Allium sup- 
plies the Onion, Leek, Chive, Shallot, Rocambole, and 
Garlic. The order comprises upwards of 180 genera, and 
about 2500 species. 
' LILIUM (the old Latin name, akin to Greek Leinon, 
a Lily). Lily. ORD. Liliacee. This well-known genus 
comprises about forty-five species of hardy, half-hardy, 
or greenhouse bulbs, natives of the temperate aeons 
of the Northern hemisphere. Flowers large, showy, 
either solitary at the tops of the stems, or many (or 
few) in a loose raceme; perianth deciduous, funnel- 
shaped.or sub-campanulate; segments free, variable in 
shape, erect, spreading or reflexed; stamens six, hypo- 
gynous; racemes rarely sub-ramose, often spreading or 
pendulous, rarely erect. Leaves very variable, from 
rotundate-cordate to lanceolate or linear, sometimes ar- 
ranged in regular whorls, sometimes having bulblets in 
the axils. Stems erect, leafy, simple, or rarely branched 
at apex. Bulbs various, mostly presenting the usual 
type of fleshy, imbricated, lanceolate scales, but rarely 
thick, wrapped in large membranous tunics. 
The species are amongst the most beautiful and orna- 
mental of cultivated bulbous plants, their stately habit 
and variously - coloured flowers (which are, in many 
cases, highly perfumed) rendering them indispensable sub- 
jects for greenhouse decoration, and for outside flower- 
garden embellishment. Nearly all the species and varie- 
ties may be termed hardy in most localities, if provided 
with a well-drained soil. As a precaution against injury 
to the bulbs from frost, it is well to cover them all the 
winter with a mound of ashes or cocoa-nut fibre, re- 
moving it, again in spring. Valuable or scarce sorts 
should not be trusted outside permanently, unless their 
hardiness has been previously proved. The commoner 
and more plentiful species may be effectively employed 
for grouping or naturalising. Many of them are excel- 
lent border plants when in flower, being extremely 
attractive in mixed arrangements, if properly placed in 
respect of height. Many of the strong-growing Lilies are 
well adapted for planting amongst shrubs, where the 
latter are not too thickly placed. By growing a selec- 
tion of species in pots, to flower at different times, a 
valuable -addition to greenhouse decorative subjects is 
secured over a long period, in summer and autumn. 
Liliums are annually imported, in immense quantities, 
from Japan, particularly L. auratum. This is one of 
the best for pot culture, and one which succeeds well, 
planted outside, in peat beds, where the primary occu- 
pants, such as Azaleas, Rhododendrons, &., preserve 
the bulbs from injury by frost in winter, and the tender 
flower-stems from cold and rough winds in spring. Ever- 
green shrubs such as those named, amongst several 
others, are surface-rooting, and their foliage shades the 
soil beneath from hot sun, and keeps it cool, in summer, 
these conditions being also most favourable to Lily cul- 
ture. L. bulbiferum, L. giganteum, L. longiflorum, and 
L. speciosum, with each of the varieties of the last- 
named, are well adapted for culture, in pots, along with 
L. auratum. 
Propagation. Liliums may be increased by seeds, by 
offsets, and sometimes by small bulblets which form in the 
axils of the leaves; the bulb scales, too, may be turned 
to account in propagating rare or distinct varieties. 
Seeds should be sown, when ripe, in well-drained pans 
Vol. II. ; 
MISSOURI 
BOTANICAL 
Lilium continued. ; 
of sandy peat, then slightly covered with similar soil and 
a layer of moss, and placed in a cool frame. They do 
not vegetate, as a rule, for several months; and, as it 
takes from four to six years to grow from seed bulbs 
large enough to produce flowers, the process is a slow 
one. The usual method of increase is by offsets, which 
are produced, in many instances, in great abundance 
round the old bulb, or amongst its scales. More than 
one flower-stem is often produced, and this has a ten- 
dency to cause the formation of a bulb for each, which 
may be detached for propagating purposes. Offsets vary 
in size, according to the species; they should be planted 
a few inches apart, in a prepared bed, and encouraged 
to grow quickly into flowering sizes. L. bulbiferum and 
L. tigrinum bear, in the axils -of the leaves, quantities of 
Fig. 410. YounG BULBLETS OF LILIUM. 
bulblets, illustrations of which are shown in Fig. 410. 
They may be easily collected in summer, and, if planted like 
offsets, will soon grow, and eventually form flowering bulbs. 
Cultivation. Where soils are light and naturally well- 
drained, the few special requirements of different Lilies 
may be readily met by the addition of fresh soil at 
planting time—heavier or lighter, as the case may be. 
Nearly all the species prefer peat, and, where plenty of 
this is obtainable, some may, with advantage, be used, 
along with loam and leaf mould, or some other light 
manure. L. candidum prefers rather heavy loam, which 
should be of a good depth. It sueceeds best on such 
soil when left alone for years in succession without 
being disturbed at the root. The beautiful pure white 
flowers of this common species are very attractive, early — 
in summer. L. tigrinum, and its varieties, succeed in 
almost any position, as they are extremely hardy; the 
quality and size of their flowers are, however, very much 
superior when the soil is made rich, and plenty of water 
is given in summer. L. Humboldtii, L. Martagon, — 
Fie. 411. BULB OF LILIUM. 
E monadelphum, and L. Washingtonianum, =i 
others, prefer moderately heavy loamy soil; L. Catesbei, 
L. Leichtlinii, L. pardalinum, L. philadelphicum, and 
L. tenuifolium, may be recommended for planting in peaty 
soil in moist situations. Liliums prefer a partial shade, 
2 M 
GARDE 
