22 THE BOOK OF THE LILY 



flower generally about the first half of August. It 

 grows well under the same treatment as L. elegans. 



The bulbs of nearly all the varieties of L. elegans are 

 relatively small, yet they flower freely the first season 

 after planting. 



L. giganteum. This noble Lily, were it not for L. 

 cordifolium, would be unique among Lilies on account of 

 its stature and broad leaves. It is a handsome foliage 

 plant when not in flower, and when its tall flower-spikes 

 are matured it is indeed a stately Lily. 



The bulbs when fully grown are very large, and the 

 scales are formed of the bases of the leaves. When 

 about to flower the entire central portion of the plant 

 is pushed upwards so that when the stem dies down 

 only the outer shell of the bulb remains, the continuity 

 of bulb growth being ensured by two or three new 

 bulbs that form at the base of the old flower stem. 

 In the finest specimens the flower stem often reaches 

 a height of ten to twelve feet. On the upper part are 

 the long tubular-shaped flowers, frequently ten or a 

 dozen opening in succession. The colour is pure white 

 tinged on the outside with green and inside with purple. 



The place most suitable for the perfect development 

 of this grand Lily is a spot sheltered and partially shaded 

 by trees, and in a very deep soil containing a good 

 proportion of sandy peat, hence it is often grown best 

 in rhododendron beds. In colder districts it needs the 

 protection of a greenhouse, and if it can be planted out 

 in a greenhouse border it will flourish to perfection. 

 A point necessary to observe in planting this Lily is that 

 flowering-size bulbs are often sent here from Holland 

 for sale during the winter, which, when planted out 

 or potted, push up their flower stems the next season, 

 but owing to the few roots that have formed, the re- 

 sulting flower stems are seldom or never satisfactory, 

 the growth being stunted and the flowers imperfectly 



