1ILIUM COLCHICTJJI. 55 



those of our readers who may be endowed with a sufficient stock of patience, the 

 propagation of the Lily tribe by seed. The Dutch florists have raised many 

 interesting varieties of the Martagon Lilg ; and in England Mr. Groom, who has 

 devoted much attention to this showy genus, has obtained a number of very beautiful 

 hybrids, between several of the species, among the most remarkable of which, are 

 those obtained from L. hulbiferum, crossed by the pollen of L. atrosanguineum. It 

 would be an error to suppose that these results are only attainable by professional 

 florists ; on the contrary, they are within the reach of the humblest cultivator. 



We intend, in an early number, to explain how the operation of hybridizing is 

 performed ; and, in the meantime, we would point out, that where it is desired to 

 increase to seme extent any rare species of Lily, we may avail ourselves of the well- 

 ascertained fact, that any check upon the production of flowers increases the 

 formation of young bulbs. If, therefore, the flower stem be entirely removed at an 

 early stage of its growth, the vital energies of the bulb being no longer directed to 

 the nutrition of stem, flowers, and seeds, will be diverted to the production of an 

 increased number of new bulbs ; and the same result occurs, if the old bulb be 

 accidentally injured or removed, in a growing state. 



Our space will not allow us to notice, in the present article, all the points of 

 interest in the structure and growth of the plants of this genus. We will now only 

 refer to the small bulbs, or bulbils, formed upon the stem of some of the species, 

 chiefly in L. hulbiferum, and L. tigrinum. These singular productions may be 

 employed in the propagation of the species ; but, as in the case of plants raised from 

 seed or from separate scales of the bulb, a long succession of leaf bulbs must be 

 formed before a flower bulb is produced. 



We believe our pz - esent subject has been published in Yan Houtte's Flore des 

 Serres, under the name of L. Szowitsianum ; we have, however, preferred the more 

 euphonious designation by which it is generally known in this country. 



We will avail ourselves of this opportunity to recommend to such of our readers 

 as do not already possess it, the very beautiful L. speciosum, and its varieties, which 

 are found to be quite hardy, and also well adapted to pot culture. They are now so 

 extensively grown for sale, that bulbs of the white variety may be purchased at 

 nearly as low a rate as the common white Lily. The L. speciosum is often regarded as 

 a variety of the L. lancifolium, but erroneously, this latter being a distinct species. 



In commencing these remarks we alluded to two recently introduced species, 

 which, if the accounts given of them are not exaggerated, will certainly create a 

 furore among horticulturists ; we refer to the L. giganteum and L. Wallickianum, 

 both from Nepaul. A brief account of the first-named species will be found at 

 page 63. The L. Wallichianum does not appear to exceed iu stature many of the 

 older kinds ; but the flowers are even larger than those of L. giganteum, and are 

 said to be fully nine inches long, and when expanded, as much across the mouth. 



