42 THE BOOK OF THE GREENHOUSE 



one-third of it is exposed. The soil should be moist but 

 not wet, and pressed firmly into the pot with the fingers 

 not rammed. Stand the pots close together on a 

 level piece of hard and worm-proof ground, and cover 

 them with from four inches to six inches of fine coal ashes 

 or cocoanut fibre. Ashes are the best, but they should 

 not be from coke or anthracite coal in any case, nor even 

 from newly burned coal. In a few weeks the bulbs 

 will be found to have rooted nicely and to be pushing 

 up their crowns, and may then be taken into the green- 

 house in bulk or in relays for succession. On removing 

 from the ashes, the crowns should not be immediately 

 exposed to light. If a garden frame is at hand, they 

 may be stood in it for a few days and shaded until they 

 acquire a green tint. The shading may remain on 

 at night also as a protection from frost. Once in the 

 greenhouse they like plenty of light. A moderate 

 supply of water will suffice at first, but as the spikes 

 push up, this should be increased and some manure 

 water given occasionally. 



Liliums. There are many beautiful lilies suitable for 

 the greenhouse, the best however being L. longlflorum and 

 L. Harrissi, both pure white and grand for forcing or for 

 cool treatment, together with the well known L. auratum 

 and several varieties of the late flowering L. speciosum. 

 The bulbs frequently suffer severely in transit, and those 

 which appear to be badly blemished or to have made many 

 new roots before they come to hand should be rejected. 

 The bulbs should be freed from decaying scales, and the 

 wounded portions dressed with powdered charcoal before 

 being potted. For L. longlflorum and L. Harrlssi a sandy 

 loam is suitable, while for the others mentioned some peat 

 should be added, the soil in each case being fibrous. 

 Drain the pots well, pot the bulbs low down, with some 

 sand round and under each, and do not for the present 

 fill the pots up in the usual way, but leave room for some 



