THE NEW JAPAN LILIES. 



33 



Soil. — In cultivating these new Lilies, 

 the following soil will be found thoroughly 

 adapted : Two parts from an old hot-bed, 

 composed of leaves and horse manure, at 

 least two years old ; one part rotten sods, 

 or any good mellow loam ; one part sandy 

 peat ; [if not sandy, it will be well to add 

 a little sand.] 



Potting and shifting the bulbs. — About 

 the middle of January, these will com- 

 mence vegetating, Avhen they should be 

 potted in small pots, repotting or shifting 

 them to a larger size, every two months, 

 or as often as the pots are filled with roots 

 — always remembering that perfect drain- 

 age, and plenty of it, are indispensable to 

 success. 



PropagatioTi. — By seeds, which are ob- 

 tained in abundance in this climate, if the 

 pistils are fertilized. These should be 

 sown as soon as ripe, in shallow pans, in 

 which they may remain for one or two 

 years ; they should then be transferred to 

 six inch pots, four to six bulbs around the 

 edges of the same — and finally, singly, in 

 pots for floAvering, 



By offsetts and by young bulbs. — These 

 are formed at the crown of the old bulb, 

 and also at the axils of the leaves. Their 

 growth is accelerated by the placing of 

 pieces of peat around the stem. 



By scales, from the outside of the bulb, 

 potted in peat and sand, and subjected to 

 a slight heat ; these do not vegetate rapid- 

 ly, but eventually make good bulbs, and 

 those scales may be divided longitudinally 

 into two or three parts, with the knife, 

 each one of which will form at the bottom 

 a new plant. 



Hardiness and adaptation to the open 

 ground. — That the Japan Lilies and their 

 offspring, may become tenants of our gar- 

 dens, and sufficiently hardy to endure our 

 climate, is much to be desired. The scar- 



5 



city and high price of these have, until re- 

 cently, been a hindrance to much experi- 

 ence in this respect. I can, however, state 

 some facts, Avhich give great reason to ex- 

 pect that they or their hybrids will prove 

 so. Soon after the introduction of the L. 

 spedosum, a bulb stood the winter perfectly 

 well, protected only by a pot, in the garden 

 of a gentleman in this city — and I learn 

 that one of the same sort has, for two or 

 three years, remained uninjured in a gar- 

 den in the city of New-York. My own 

 experience is quite encouraging. Eighteen 

 bulbs were planted in the open ground last 

 November, in a bed of Tree Pasonias, be- 

 tween the rows ; these were covered with 

 four inches of peat, and when the ground 

 closed up, about the same depth of sea- 

 weed was added to the covering ; every 

 bulb is alive, and now making a vigorous 

 growth. It is sufficiently evident, that if 

 the Japan Lilies prove hardy, their culture 

 in the open ground, and in a deep rich bor- 

 der, will be of the easiest description. 



General treatmenl. — I am now supposing 

 the course of in-door culture. The dor- 

 mant bulbs having been potted, they should 

 be placed in a forcing pit, with a little 

 gentle heat, removing them as near to the 

 light as possible, as soon as the leaves be- 

 gin to unfold themselves ; water must be 

 given sparingly during the first period of 

 growth, or until new roots have been form- 

 ed ; after which, it may be administered 

 plentifully whenever the surface of the soil 

 becomes dry, remembering the good old 

 rule, that the supply of water must always 

 be in proportion to the supply of solar 

 light. 



A flue in the green-house will do very 

 well, provided the pots are kept constantly 

 moist. In the early stages of their growth, 

 a warm, humid atmosphere is particularly 

 favorable to a vigorous start j this will be 



