HYBRID LILIES 49 



is obscured, not having been found in a wild state, and 

 therefore it is assumed that it is a natural cross between 

 two European Lilies, the White Lily L. candidum and 

 the Scarlet Turk's-Cap Lily L. chalcedonicum. This is 

 probably correct, as the characters of the two species 

 are blended in the alleged hybrid in a remarkable way, 

 the growth, flower shape, and colour being intermediate 

 between the two. 



Other Lilies, which are now regarded as species or 

 varieties, may possibly be either natural hybrids or, 

 in the case of Japanese and Chinese Lilies, had their 

 origin at some remote period in the gardens of those 

 countries before they were opened to the people of the 

 western world. If a Lily or other plant is not found 

 growing more or less plentifully in a wild state, the 

 presumption is that it is a chance hybrid or a seedling 

 variation. The Lilies that are of obscure origin include 

 besides L. testaceum, the Japanese tigrinum jucundutn 

 (Maximo'wic'z.ii)) Wallace^ Batemannia, and probably 

 others. 



The raising of hybrids by those who attempt this 

 interesting work should be undertaken with method, as 

 haphazard experiments, though the results may be suc- 

 cessful, are often disappointing. Besides, the scientific 

 value of systematic experiments is greater than chance 

 work in this way. 



The hybrid Lilies raised artificially number only about 

 half-a-dozen, and their origin is recorded more or less 

 satisfactorily. The following are those that have been 

 named : 



L. Berensi. A rare plant recorded as a cross between 

 L. testaceum and chalcedonicum. The flower is as large as 

 that of testaceum^ but of a brighter tone of colour, due no 

 doubt to the influence of chalcedonicum. It is also sweet 

 scented. This is a case of a second cross, as testaceum is 

 regarded as a natural hybrid. 



