LILIUM. 



61 



December, with success, giving the same protection as to Tulips 

 or Hyacinths ; but if the roots are suffered to remain in the 

 ground after flowering, it will never bloom again, and most 

 assuredly perish. Our season is too long for it ; if left in the 

 ground through the summer, it commences growing in autumn, 

 forms its flower buds before winter sets in, and dies. Ob- 

 serving this, I have taken up the roots the first of August, and 

 kept them out of ground till the time of planting in autumn, 

 with perfect success. After drying, the roots may be kept in 

 dry sand or moss. 



LILIUM. 



The Lily. 



" Have you seen but a bright Lily grow, 

 Before rude hands have touched it ? " 



f( Queen of the field, in milk-white mantle drest, 

 The lovely Lily waved her curling crest." 



All the species of this splendid genus, with which we are 

 acquainted, may be considered worthy of a place in every good 

 collection of plants. Many of the species are well known, 

 while a greater number are not often seen in our gardens. 



The Lily is an interesting flower to the young florist as well 

 as the botanist, on account of the simplicity of its structure 

 and magnitude and distinct character of its different parts and 

 organs. The root of the Lily, or what is generally denomi- 

 nated the root, is a scaly bulb, the scales being laid over each 

 other in an imbricate form, inclosing the germ, or bud. The 

 bulb is not a root, strictly speaking, but a bud containing the 

 embryo of the future plant. The roots are thrown out from 

 the- bottom of these bulbs, or buds, and, unlike the fibres of the 

 Tulip, are perennial ; and on their strength depends, in a great 

 measure, the vigor of the future plant. Bulbs, long kept out 

 of ground, are very much weakened, and a number of years 

 will elapse before they recover strength to bloom in great per- 

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