THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 15 



or biennial planting in rich soil, they grow plants so fine and strong as 

 to be thonsht a superior and quite different variety. lb is, however, 

 only the difference between a liberal and starving system of cultivation. 

 It was this superior mode of treating the Lily of the Valley, and the 

 continued demand, that originated the clump system. The crowns 

 grew so strongly, and produced a series of other strong crowns around 

 them, formini?, in fact, clumps that were transferred to the English and 

 Foreign Markets bodily, just as they grew. The trade purchased, and 

 growers ghidly bought, and still buy these clumps ; they are an im- 

 mense improvement ou the old plan of taking up patches of any and 

 every sort from wood and border for forcing. It is, however, obvious 

 that the clumps must contain a mixture of flowering and merely leaf 

 crowns, and so far there is a loss of space in forcing such; besides, the 

 carriage of clumps is heavy, consequently expensive; but the system is 

 not a bad one, especially for those who grow their own clumps. But, 

 doubtless, the single crown system is better, and will speedily supersede 

 it. It is more certain, requires less space, and is, therefore, more 

 economical ; only the strongest flowering crowns are picked oat, and 

 each of them holds a flower-spike in embryo. 



The mode of cultivation, and the single crown system, also tend to 

 develop the full strength of each crown. They are picked over annually 

 or biennially, all the finest crowns selected, and the others sorted and 

 planted on frcbh ground. By such means, the entire energy and skill of 

 the cultivator is directed to thedevelopment of individual excellence; tho 

 consequence is, that the crowns improve from year to year, aod seem in 

 a fair way of overtaking ordinary asparagus heads. Space in heat is 

 always costly in winter and early spring, and as a dozen or more single 

 crowns may be flowered to perfection in a 4 or 5-inch pot, both space 

 and heat are economized. 



These pots, fully furnished and in flower, are a sight to gladden the 

 eyes, and cheer the hearts, of all iove^s of beauty. The flowers stand 

 up boldly above the foliage ; and the Valley Lily, by the single crown 

 system, has assuredly risen in the world. They should be potted rather 

 firmly in & rich soil, and placed in a gentle heat ; it is better to keep 

 them in a shady place until fairly started, when they may be gradually 

 inured to the light. Some keep the plants in semi-darkness until tho 

 flowers are almost expanded; in that case there will be few or no leaves. 

 For cut flowers that may not matter, but for plants in pots, the fur- 

 nishing of vases, etc., the leaves are as essential as the flowers, and must 

 either be developed by growing the plants in the light, or forcing clumps 

 of common plants in boxes, specially for foliage ; it may be well in 

 private establishments to do this, if the crown system is adopted, lest a 

 scarcity of foliage should occur. Some ladies like to see a thicket of 

 leaves, studded over with the charming crystal flowers. It is well, too, 

 with crowns, to excite root action rather in advance of the top, as it will 

 06 apparent to those familiar with the crowns and roots of the Valley 

 Lily, that there cannot be a very large portion of root to each, but the 

 root is the part always on the move for extension and reproduction, and 

 with a little genial treatment at starting, it will be sufficiently developed 

 to sustain the flower stem through its flowering period. More need 

 hardly be added on either the crown or clump system, the former is now 

 firmly established. Nearly all the beautiful plants that are sent to 

 Covent Garden Market are the produce of single crowns. Other fur- 

 nishers follow the lead of the row, and soon the system is likely to be 

 the only one in the trade. It is founded on a true principle ; the more 

 all such plants as these are subdivided, the stronger the separate parts 

 become. Multiplication of parts, if Bkilfully managed, leads to a concen- 



January. 



