AND THEIR CULTURE. 35 



" Unfortunately of late the best and most valuable of our hardy plants 

 have been sadly neglected, and almost elbowed out of existence to make 

 room for others, the merits of many of which consist merely in tbe bigness 

 of their leaves, or whose beauty at the best is only of such short duration, 

 that it in no way compensates for the room they take up under glass, and 

 the constant recurring expense there is in raising them and getting them 

 fit to plant out. In the cultivation of Lilies there is nothing of this, for 

 if a proper position be chosen, and suitable preparation made, they become 

 more vigorous each succeeding year, and increase at such a rate as to form 

 grand masses if left undisturbed. For shrubbery borders, where they can 

 be kept clear of the I'oots of trees or other surface-feeding plants, there is 

 nothing more suitable to grow, than Lilies, and there are few gardens 

 but have an appendage of this kind, which would be greatly improved by 

 the introduction of a few clumps of the different varieties of these stately 

 plants. 



" If it is intended to grow them in borders at the front of shrubs, the 

 proper course -will be to dig large holes from 2 to 3 feet across, and as 

 much deep, and to fill these in with properly prepared soil, such as a 

 mixture of leaf-mould and the turfy trimmings from the road-side, or any 

 old pasture that has a sharp gritty soil. This should be chopped up small, 

 and the whole well mixed up together, but on no account ought manure 

 to be added in any form, or it will be likely to cause the bulbs to rot away 

 before they are in a sufficiently forward state to make use of it. If applied 

 at all, it should be towards the bottom of the hole, where it can only be 

 reached when the plant is in an advanced stage of growth ; at which 

 time the roots are actively at work, and can turn it to proper account. 



"Having filled in the holes with the parings from the sides of paths or 

 roads, or any good turfy loam and peat, which should be rendered 

 tolerably firm by gentle treading, the next thing is to plant the bulbs, 

 either singly, or in groups of three where bold masses are required. 

 Excepting for such as Giganieum, with its massive leaves and gigantic 

 stem towering aloft, most of the others look best placed in clumps trian- 

 gularly at from 6 to 9 inches apart, and the front plant so arranged as to 

 face the border or walk, in which case they are seen to great advantao-e. 

 In placing the bulbs in position, it is of the greatest importance that they 

 should have a good handful of sharp clean sand under their base, and a 

 shovelful of the same scattered over and around them, which will keep 

 them in a clean healthy state, and prevent them from rotting — a thing 

 they are very liable to do, if the soil is allowed to come in imir ediute contact 

 with them. The proper depth at which to plant is about G inches, and when 

 all is covered in securely with the same kind of mixture that the holes have 

 been previously filled in with, the surface should be mulched over with some 

 half-rotten leaves, cocoa-nut fibre, or any material of that kind, to keep 

 out frost ; for, although Lily bulbs are perfectly hardy when they become 

 established, they are readily injured after being fresh planted, especially 

 if at the time they are forming young growth, or emitting their large 

 fleshy rootlets. 



" The principal attention required through their growing season is to 

 keep them securely staked and tied as they advance; the best and neatest 



