294 LILIACE^. 



florescence may be seen overtopping the shrubs. And they are 

 so easy to cultivate ifi any position, that there is no obstacle in 

 the way of their being generally adopted for any of the pur- 

 poses indicated. They like light, warm, rich loams, with a 

 good deal of slowly-decomposable vegetable matter in them, 

 best ; and do worst in heavy clays or close tenacious loams and 

 poor sandy soils. They are especially fond of peat, and when 

 plenty of it is available, it matters little what may be the 

 nature or texture of the soil if the drainage is good, because a 

 free admixture of peat and sand will make the compost all that 

 is required for them. The Lilies should be lifted and replanted 

 every three or four years, but not oftener than every three 

 years, for mere cultural reasons ; although, if they are not al- 

 lowed to lie too long out pf the ground, they may be lifted 

 every year, if considerations of arrangement or other circum- 

 stances should require such a course. The best time for lifting 

 and replanting Lilies is in the autumn, when the stems have 

 become ripe ; and, as before stated, the roots should not be 

 allowed to lie about exposed to the weather, but kept as short 

 time as possible before being replanted. There is a popular 

 notion that bulbs at rest cannot be injured by being exposed to 

 the sun and air for a length of time ; and so far as bulbs of the 

 types of Gladiolus, Hyacinth, and Tulip are concerned, the no- 

 tion is well enough founded : but with bulbs of a scaly nature, 

 of which those of the Lily are the type, it is different, for they 

 suffer very much indeed by great and continued exposure ; and 

 hence the frequent failures in bought bulbs, which may have 

 been long and badly stored in the shops. The bulbs should 

 be planted from 4 to 6 inches deep, according to the climate 

 of the locality and the character of the soil. If the climate and 

 soil are wet and cold, the bulbs should be placed the deeper, 

 and if they are warm and light, they will be safe at the shal- 

 lowest figure ; but the greater depth will protect them from any 

 frost we are likely to experience in this country. Additional 

 precaution may, however, be taken with the more rare species 

 and varieties, till they become more plentiful, by laying some 

 protecting material, such as old tan, stable-litter, coal-ashes, or, 

 where it is available, old peat, to the depth of several inches, 

 over the place occupied by the roots ; but indeed, even when 

 not required for the purpose of protection, a mulching of a 

 manurial kind is advisable, as it gives additional strength to the 

 plants. Lilies are in fact gross feeders, and make a handsome 

 return for generous diet. They are increased by offsets from 

 the bulbs, which are in most species freely produced. Certain 

 species also, such as Z. bulbifenwi and L. tigri?iu7?iy produce 



