LILiUM VENUSTUST. 21 



LILIUM VENTJSTUM. 



Beautiful Lily. 

 Linnean Class— Hexaxdria. Order— -Moxogyxia. Natural Order — Liliace.e. 



To those cultivators (and they are, we suspect, a numerous class,) who may be 

 desirous of enjoying the sweets of Floriculture, without incurring the labour and 

 constant attention to details necessary in the treatment of many plants, none of our 

 hardy exotics are more deserving of notice than the Lilies. Once planted in suit- 

 able soil, they will flourish for years with annually increasing vigour, demanding 

 absolutely no attention, beyond that of being allowed to remain undisturbed, and 

 perhaps an occasional watering in summer. 



We can imagine few objects that would be more interesting than a bed of 

 Lilies ; and the species are now so numerous, and of such varied colours, that 

 ample materials exist for forming an exceedingly attractive group. The noble 

 Lilium giganteum, more than once referred to in these pages, would form a most 

 appropriate centre-piece for such a bed ; around it might be arranged the species 

 of more moderate height, and those of dwarfer growth woidd constitute a fitting 

 edging to the whole. To produce the greatest possible effect, some care would be 

 necessary in selecting only such species as flowered simultaneously ; but the mag- 

 nificent coup d'ceil afforded by such an arrangement, would more than repay any 

 amount of trouble. The comparative brevity of the flowering season of most of the 

 Lilies, will, perhaps, prove a drawback to their employment as bedding plants ; 

 this objection might be obviated to some extent by mingling the early and late 

 flowering species, by which, if some of the effect were sacrificed, it would be en 

 revanche, much prolonged. 



It is, however, only in gardens of considerable extent that this system of cultiva- 

 tion can be adopted ; but happily the merits of this popular genus are such, that 

 in whatever situations they may be grown, their beauty cannot be hid. 



The Lilies are by no means particular as to soil; they will grow in almost anything 

 except very sandy loams, and even in these they will succeed if not fully exposed to 

 the sun. They flourish most, however, in rich mellow loam, of strong texture, and 

 will also thrive in turfy peat. 



Perhaps one of the most remarkable and best known of the species, is the lance- 

 leaved Japan Lily, L. speciosum, and its varieties. Until recently, this elegant plant 

 was supposed to be too tender for full exposure, but it is now proved to be per- 

 fectly hardy in the neighbourhood of London, and we have no doubt that it will 

 succeed out-doors anywhere south of the Tweed. Experiment only can test its 



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