64 THE BOOK OF THE LILY 



of the soil and in fine condition, and being a very hardy 

 Lily, the bulbs are not affected by even severe frosts. 



The details of planting as described are those generally 

 practised by the Lily growers in this country, but a hint 

 may be gathered from the Japanese method. The author 

 when studying Lily culture in Japan a few years ago, 

 made particular note of the practice of some of the growers 

 there in cases where largely exported Lilies, such as 

 auratum, speclosum, longijlorum and others were grown in 

 fields of large area. Deep planting seemed to be followed 

 in some cases, while in others the bulbs were planted just 

 below the surface, and as the stems grew the soil was 

 drawn up between the rows, so as to make a ridge in just 

 the same way as potatoes are grown. In this ridge the 

 stem roots grew freely and the vigour and health of the 

 plants were remarkable. This seemed to be a very rational 

 method, and one that might be tried here, especially in 

 cold soils in wet districts, for if the bulbs are planted 

 deep in a cold soil the conditions must necessarily be less 

 favourable for growth than when planted just below the 

 surface when the soil is a few degrees warmer. There 

 is no doubt that such Lilies as auratum do suffer when 

 planted deeply in cold soils, and if there is any incipient 

 decay of the bulb scales the cold and wet conditions of 

 soil tend to increase it. Surface planting and then 

 adding soil round the stems is the usual method followed 

 in the pot culture of Lilies, and some growers who make 

 a speciality of pot culture of Lilies use pots made a third 

 deeper than the ordinary size so as to allow of this 

 addition of surface soil above the bulbs. 



