LILIES AND IRIS 



In the pool the Nelumbium speciosum spread 

 its great blue-green leaves and two of its 

 pink lilies with golden hearts rose on tall 

 stems above the water. The pale colors 

 with the fresh green setting seemed in the 

 soft sunset-light almost unreal after the sad 

 expectation that had so long filled my mind. 

 Any garden lover will sympathize and un- 

 derstand my great delight. 



In October, when frost had killed the 

 Asters, the beds were finally prepared for 

 the Lilies and Iris which they were then to 

 receive. Over each bed was spread a layer 

 each, of old manure, leaf -mould, bone meal, 

 wood ashes, phosphate, and a sprinkling of 

 air-slaked lime, the beds were then spaded 

 and re-spaded so as to mix the new con- 

 stituents thoroughly with the soil already 

 there, and then came planting time. 



But for a moment let me digress and 



again say a word upon the preparation of 



the soil, for in this lies the great secret of 



success in gardening. Make it deep and 



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