ESSENTIAL CULTURAL POINTS 39 



good soil. It is usually rich in peat or veg- 

 etable mold, there is generous depth and though 

 the degree of moisture required varies, this is 

 tolerably uniform as to any species in the grow- 

 ing season. Garden loam, lightened with sand 

 if too heavy and mixed with peat or leaf-mold, 

 makes a good soil for lilies. Manure should 

 not be used unless it is extremely well rotted. 

 The better way is to employ it as a top dressing 

 and trust to the rain to do the mixing. No lily 

 tolerates fresh manure next to the bulb. Spad- 

 ing should be to a depth of at least three feet, 

 and deeper still where, in chalk or clay condi- 

 tions, it is necessary to excavate a trench and 

 fill it with entirely new soil. 



Partial shade from the sun, which scorches 

 L. Hansoni and L. Henryi, and partial shelter 

 from winds, are urgent demands of some of the 

 lilies. To others they are grateful, but not 

 necessary. Shade must not shut off light and 

 air, however, and while the branches of trees 

 may overhang the planting, care must be taken 

 that the tree roots do not absorb all the lily 

 food from the soil. Where this danger may not 

 be dodged, lilies can be planted in a tub of soil 

 sunk in the ground. As for moisture, all lilies 

 need it when growing. Few of them stand 



