128 on The culture op the guernsey lilt. 



besplangled with gold, and the very organs of generation contri- 

 bute to the beauty of these flowers ; the filaments are of a pale 

 and delicate red, with purple antherre, and the style is gracefully 

 terminated by a trifid purple stigma. These flowers will be in 

 their full glory in October, and after they are over, the leaves 

 appear ; these also are not destitute of beauty ; they are of an 

 oblong figure, moderately broad, of a beautiful green, are smooth, 

 and seem peculiarly adapted to the nature and constitution of the 

 kind they are designed for. 



The culture of the Guernsey Lily may next be considered, as 

 we receive them every year from Guernsey in July or August ; 

 therefore, against the time of their arrival let a compost be pre- 

 pared for their reception, consisting of the soil from a fresh light 

 pasture, intermixed with drift sand and very rotten dung. This 

 compost should be formed, and the whole turned over at intervals, 

 and well mixed, for at least a year before it is wanted. Strong 

 earth should be avoided, for Guernsey is a sandy soil, or inclinable 

 thereto, where they grow and flourish in perfection ; this in some 

 respect has taught us their true culture, and experience demon- 

 strates the practice to be right. The bulbs being arrived, and the 

 compost prepared, let a sufficient number of pots of the size of 

 those common for Auriculas be in readiness, according to the 

 number of the bulbs ; fill the pots with the compost, and plant a 

 single bulb in each pot. These pots are designed to form a bed, 

 and having marked out a place, set them in rows of what breadth 

 you please, so that they can conveniently be managed ; let the 

 pots be joined close to each other, and fill the cavities between 

 with any common mould ; then hoop the beds, for the conveniency 

 of covering them when too great a quantity of rain falls ; for by 

 thus plunging the pots, the roots will be kept so cool and moist, 

 as to require little or no watering, which is very injurious to these 

 plants. In October, or earlier, the flower buds will shew them- 

 selves, though not every one ; for this reason they should be 

 planted in pots, that the flowering sorts may be collected and placed 

 together, to form a general blow ; for this purpose let a shed be 

 prepared for their reception (an Auricula stage will be very suit- 

 able), but such shed or stage should be in an open exposure, and 

 guarded from violent winds, but where they can have the benefit 

 of sun and air. Gentle watering should now be frequently be- 



