34 



ON THE LILY OF THE VALLEt. 



ARTICLE IV. 



CN FORCING THE LILY OF THE VALLEY AS PRACTISED IN 

 GERMANY AND THE LOW COUNTRIES. 



FY o. o. 



This sweet little flower, which seems to be so little noticed in 

 Britain, is quite a favourite flower in this country, so much so that 

 the natives do not think their garden complete, without a quan- 

 tity of it growing in shady borders, and in winter when forced, is 

 highly valued. As some of the readers of the Cabinet may have 

 an opportunity of forcing this sweet flower, I forward you the fol- 

 lowing particulars as practised here, should you consider it worth 

 insertion. 



To have flowers at Christmas, the latter end of November is the 

 time to take up the roots. Those selected must not be less than 

 two years old, and in appearance, are something similar to small 

 heads of asparagus, when about two or three inches high, and are 

 furnished with fibrous roots ; each of these tubers are wrapped 

 round with a little moss, and placed in pots or mignionette boxes, 

 close together. The boxes or pots are previously filled with old 

 bark or light earth, a thin portion is laid over the crowns, and then 

 a layer of moss which keeps the roots moist, assists in drawing 

 up the flower stems. The boxes or pots are then placed on a fire 

 flue, or any other warm situation. Over these are turned boxes 

 or pots of the same dimensions, upside down, to keep the plants 

 quite dark ; in three or four weeks, according to the warmth of 

 the situation, they are abundantly furnished with their lovely bell- 

 shaped flowers, six or eight inches high. Those coming into 

 flower first, are taken out of this situation, being easily removed 

 by having moss round the roots, and placed in small wicker baskets, 

 or ornamental vase, with Hyacinths, Van Thol tulips, &c. which 

 are forced, something similar, for this purpose. When this sort 

 of winter flower basket, pyramid, orange, or vase, is properly exe- 

 cuted, the colours of the flowers regularly mixed, and the spaces 

 betwixt the plants filled up with ornamental moss, it certainly has 

 a very neat and pleasing appearance. 



The market gardeners are busily employed during the months 

 of November and December, in preparing such decorations for 

 the side board or drawing room table, as there are only a few 



