LILIES 129 



mer sun. A great many lilies suffer very much from 

 late frosts, and lilies such as L. auratum, L. specie- 

 sum, L. Leichtlini, L. giganteum, and in particular 

 the early L. Hansoni, should be protected from them 

 with heather or other branches placed lightly about 

 their young shoots. Lilies differ so much in the soil 

 they require that no general rules can be laid down on 

 this point. None, however, like a very stiff clay un- 

 less it is well drained and lightened with grit and 

 leaf-mould. They differ also as to the time at which 

 they should be planted; some are best planted in 

 early spring, others in early autumn or late summer. 



The lilies that will usually do well in the ordinary 

 herbaceous border and are of such easy culture that 

 even the beginner may attempt them with confidence 

 are the following: 



L. candidum, the Madonna Lily. The chief enemy 

 of this is the notorious lily disease, and it can be best 

 prevented by a right system of culture. In heavy 

 soils the Madonna Lily should be planted in a sunny, 

 sheltered place; and the soil should be lightened 

 with mortar-rubble. It has been said that this lily 

 objects to chalk, but we have seen it growing magnif- 

 icently in a very chalky soil, and in our experience 

 it likes lime in all forms. It also likes a very rooty 

 soil; and in light soils it may be planted in a north 

 border sheltered by shrubs, but not shaded by them. 

 In light soils also it likes a good layer of well rotted 

 cow manure well under the bulbs. In all cases the top 

 of the bulb should be only an inch or two under the 



