AN ENCYCLOPEDIA OF HORTICULTURE. 



265 



Liliacese continued. 



polymorphous, cauline, or radical. Boot bulbous tuberous, 

 fibrous-fascicled, or with a creeping rhizome. Liliaceae 

 are remarkable for the beauty of their flowers. The 

 following is a selection of the principal genera cul- 

 vivated for ornament : Agapanthus, Fritillaria, Funkia, 

 Hemerocallis, Hyacinthus, Lilium, Methonica, Scilla, 

 Tulipa, Urginea, &c. Urginea furnishes a large bulb, 

 which is used medicinally under the name of Squill. Cer- 

 tain species of Aloe yield an extremely bitter resinous 

 juice, much employed in medicine. The genus Allium sup- 

 plies the Onion, Leek, Chive, Shallot, Eocambole, and 

 Garlic. The order comprises upwards of 180 genera, and 

 about 2500 species. 



LILIUM (the old Latin name, akin to Greek Leinon, 

 a Lily). Lily. OBD. Liliacece. This well-known genus 

 comprises about forty-five species of hardy, half-hardy, 

 or greenhouse bulbs, natives of the temperate regions 

 of the Northern hemisphere. Flowers large, showy, 

 either solitary at the tops of the stems, or many (or 

 few) in a loose raceme; perianth deciduous, funnel- 

 shaped or sub-campannlate; segments free, variable in 

 shape, erect, spreading or reflexed; stamens six, hypo- 

 gynous; racemes rarely sub-ramose, often spreading or 

 pendulous, rarely erect. Leaves very variable, from 

 rotundate-cordate to lanceolate or linear, sometimes ar- 

 ranged in regular whorls, sometimes having bulblets in 

 the axils. Stems erect, leafy, simple, or rarely branched 

 at apex. Bulbs various, mostly presenting the usual 

 type of fleshy, imbricated, lanceolate scales, but rarely 

 thick, wrapped in large membranous tunics. 



The species are amongst the most beautiful and orna- 

 mental of cultivated bulbous plants, their stately habit 

 and variously - coloured flowers (which are, in many 

 cases, highly perfumed) rendering them indispensable sub- 

 jects for greenhouse decoration, and for outside flower- 

 garden embellishment. Nearly all the species and varie- 

 ties may be termed hardy in most localities, if provided 

 with a well-drained soil. As a precaution against injury 

 to the bulbs from frost, it is well to cover them all the 

 winter with a mound of ashes or cocoa-nut fibre, re- 

 moving it again in spring. Valuable or scarce sorts 

 should not be trusted outside permanently, unless their 

 hardiness has been previously proved. The commoner 

 and more plentiful species may be effectively employed 

 for grouping or naturalising. Many of them are excel- 

 lent border plants when in flower, being extremely 

 attractive in mixed arrangements, if properly placed in 

 respect of height. Many of the strong-growing Lilies are i 

 well adapted for planting amongst shrubs, where the ! 

 latter are not too thickly placed. By growing a selec- 

 tion of species in pots, to flower at different times, a 

 valuable addition to greenhouse decorative subjects is 

 secured over a long period, in summer and autumn. 

 Liliums are annually imported, in immense quantities, 

 from Japan, particularly L. auratum. This is one of 

 the best for pot culture, and one which succeeds well, 

 planted outside, in peat beds, where the primary occu- 

 pants, such as Azaleas, Rhododendrons, &c., preserve 

 the bulbs from injury by frost in winter, and the tender 

 flower-stems from cold and rough winds in spring. Ever- 

 green shrubs such as those named, amongst several 

 others, are surface-rooting, and their foliage shades the 

 soil beneath from hot sun, and keeps it cool, in summer, 

 these conditions being also most favourable to Lily cul- 

 ture. L. bulbiferum, L. giganteum, L. longiflorum, and 

 L. speciosum, with each of the varieties of the last- 

 named, are well adapted for culture, in pots, along with 

 L, auratum. 



Propagation. Liliums may be increased by seeds, by 

 offsets, and sometimes by small bulblets which form in the 

 axils of the leaves; the bulb scales, too, may be turned 

 to account in propagating rare or distinct varieties. 

 Seeds should be sown, when ripe, in well- drained pans 



Vol. II. 



Lilium continued. 



of sandy peat, then slightly covered with similar soil and 

 a layer of moss, and placed in a cool frame. They do 

 not vegetate, as a rule, for several months ; and, as it 

 takes from four to six years to grow from seed bulbs 

 large enough to produce flowers, the process is a slow 

 one. The usual method of increase is by offsets, which 

 are produced, in many instances, in great abundance 

 round the old bulb, or amongst its scales. More than 

 one flower-stem is often produced, and this has a ten- 

 dency to cause the formation of a bulb for each, which 

 may be detached for propagating purposes. Offsets vary 

 in size, according to the species ; they should be planted 

 a few inches apart, in a prepared bed, and encouraged 

 to grow quickly into flowering sizes. L. bulbiferum and 

 L. tigrinum bear, in the axils of the leaves, quantities of 



FIG. 410. YOUNG BULBLETS OF LILIUJ 



bulblets, illustrations of which are shown in Pig. 410. 

 They may be easily collected in summer, and, if planted like 

 offsets, will soon grow, and eventually form flowering bulbs. 

 Cultivation. Where soils are light and naturally well 

 drained, the few special requirements of different Lilies 

 may be readily met by the addition of fresh soil at 

 planting time heavier or lighter, as the case may be. 

 Nearly all the species prefer peat, and, where plenty of 

 this is obtainable, some may, with advantage, be used, 

 along with loam and leaf mould, or some other light 

 manure. L. candidum prefers rather heavy loam, which 

 should be of a good depth. It succeeds best on such 

 soil when left alone for years in succession without 

 being disturbed at the root. The beautiful pure white 

 flowers of this common species are very attractive, early 

 in summer. L. tigrinum, and its varieties, succeed in 

 almost any position, as they are extremely hardy; the 

 quality and size of their flowers are, however, very much 

 superior when the soil is made rich, and plenty of water 

 is given in summer. L. Humboldtii, L. Martagon, 



FIG. 411. BULB OF LILIUM. 



L. monadelphum, and L. Washingtonianum. amongst 

 others, prefer moderately heavy loamy soil; L. Catesbaei, 

 L. Leichtlinii, L. pardalinum, L. philadelphicum, and 

 L. tenuifolium, may be recommended for planting in peaty 

 soil in moist situations. Liliums prefer a partial shade, 



2 M 



