LILIES AND IRIS 



unpropitious, and thus I was unable to have 

 the handsomest of all the lilies. 



By the first of June every inch of space 

 in the beds was filled with Asters, Gladioli 

 or tuberous-rooted Begonias. Each bed had 

 one of these varieties of flowers. 



These Begonias, which are a most beau- 

 tiful flower of waxy texture, quite four 

 inches across, were started in hot-beds the 

 first of March, began to blossom in early 

 July and continued until killed by hard 

 frost. The bulbs may also be planted in 

 the open ground in May as soon as danger 

 from frost is over. Plant with the hollow 

 end of the bulb up, and cover with two 

 inches of earth; they will begin to blossom 

 early in August. Both the foliage and the 

 flowers are beautiful, and they are so easy 

 of cultivation, that no one will regret hav- 

 ing them. They prefer a partial shade, 

 but when given a mulch they do perfectly 

 in full sun. The white are the handsomest; 

 afterwards the pink and scarlet. 

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