INTRODUCTORY 7 



ing, as it runs parallel with the history of geographical 

 knowledge. Before far-off countries were known and 

 explored, Lily culture in England was naturally restricted 

 to the species native of Europe. Among the Lilies that 

 first found their way to our gardens from the South was 

 the "White Lily (L. candidum), and records tell us that 

 it came northwards in 1596 ; and this fact strengthens the 

 supposition that Shakespeare alludes to this particular 

 Lily in his plays and poems, for he would be at manhood 

 about the time of its introduction. It was no doubt first 

 cultivated in the gardens of the royal and the rich, and it 

 is quite possible that Elizabeth and her courtiers may 

 have plucked flowers from the same stock from which 

 has descended the common White Lily of to-day still, 

 and always will be, cherished by rich and poor alike. 



Before the introduction of the White Lily there 

 appears to have been no Lily in English gardens, and 

 its advent must have created as much interest as the 

 introduction from foreign lands in later times of a 

 new and beautiful Lily. 



Following the White Lily to our gardens were the 

 Martagon Lily, the Orange Lily, the Scarlet Turk's Cap, 

 the Davurian Lily, and others from Central and South 

 Europe ; and these were doubtless favourites in Tudor 

 and Jacobean gardens. 



During the eighteenth century the list of garden Lilies 

 was added to at wide intervals, but it was not until about 

 the middle of the last century that the great influx came, 

 concurrent with gold discoveries in California and the 

 opening up of China and Japan to Europeans. It is 

 an interesting fact that wherever the Englishman goes 

 to a foreign country or colony, he does his utmost to 

 introduce to his new home the flowers of his native land, 

 which to some extent compensates for exile, for with the 

 flowers of his old home about him they recall the scenes 

 of his youth. So also does the Englishman, with his 



