AND THEIE CULTURE. 7 



Auratiim and Tiger families will not do well generally in light soils 

 and liot bin^ning sunshine^ because there is not sufficient moisture, 

 and in ]Droof we give our own experience. AVe have grown these 

 bulbs planted both on light hot soil with sandy sub-soil, and on heavy 

 loaraj good corn land. On the former eight-tenths of the bulbs failed 

 to flower, and had but few healthy roots ; some died, few made any 

 growth, notwithstanding heavy rains ; while on the heavy land, bulbs 

 planted at the same time, and picked out of the same lot, did 

 admirably, flowered well, had enormous roots, and made good new 

 growth. With regard to peaty soils we have no experience, but it 

 should be remembered that Rhododendron beds, where it is recom- 

 mended to plant Aurcdum, contain plenty of moisture, and the surface 

 is protected from the scorching sun's rays by the overspread foliage 

 of the Rhododendrons. 



Hence we lay down the axiom that for these strong growing Lilies 

 — and we think that the Marki'/oii, tribe generally, L. Ilinnholdtn, 

 Broivnii, and others, must be put in the same category — a cool loamy 

 soil with plenty of moisture is essential to their vigour. 



Deep planting, say -4 to 6 inches, is for many reasons desirable. 



1. It is a better security against frost. 



2. There is more moisture below, and the upper set of roots lie 

 protected fi'om the sun's rays. 



3. As the height of the stem is measured by feet, it matters little 

 whether it has to shoot up a few inches more or less out through the 

 soil. 



4. We are told that M. Eoezl finds some of the Californian Lilies 

 2 to 3 feet deejD among rocks and stones. 



We are therefore advocates for deep planting.* 



We do not recommend pot culture generally. That Lilies can be 

 gro^vn to perfection in pots no one who has paid a visit to Mr. G. F. 

 Wilson's (Weybridge) splendid collection can dispute, but it is not 

 in the power of every amateur, however partial he may be to Lilies, 

 to give the time, attention, and thorough knowledge of their culture 

 that Mr. Wilson bestows upon his favourites, and unless this is done 

 Lilies had far better be planted out-of-doors to take care of them- 

 selves. Our experience is that they get starved and dried up in pots, 

 both in summer and winter. In fact some of our friends would have 

 wintered their Lilies in pots in a dry corner without moisture had we 

 not remonstrated ; others dry off* their LiKes for the winter, as they 

 would Hyacinths, in July. 



We believe this still to be a common custom : but as-ainst such 

 treatment we protest most strongly. A Lily ought never to be dry. 

 There is no time except, perhaps, when they have just flowered and 

 the stems are dying down when the roots are inactive. Even in 

 midwinter, dig up a Lily in the ground which has been undisturbed, 

 * Confer. Dr. Kellogg's letter, chap. iii. 



