CHAPTER IX 



PROPAGATION OF LILIES 



MOST Lilies increase more or less rapidly by natural 

 offshoots of the parent bulbs, but in order to increase 

 the bulbs in large quantities other methods have to be 

 resorted to. They are largely propagated by seeds, 

 detached scales and by small bulbils, which in some 

 species are produced in the axils of the leaves. 

 First, as to increase by seeds : 



Some kinds are far more prolific in seed than others 

 in this country, but the late flowering kinds such as 

 L. spectosum do not readily ripen their seeds in the open 

 air, and therefore are better grown in pots for seed 

 saving. 



Seeds of the very hardy and robust Lilies, such as 

 L. Martagon, L. monadelphum and var., L. Szovitzianum, 

 L. dauricum and L. croceum, will do well sown in the 

 open ground, but seeds of the more delicate species had 

 better be sown in pans and protected by a frame during 

 their earlier stages of growth, and even a small quantity 

 of seeds of the most robust kinds are best dealt with 

 more successfully when treated in this way. 



Lily seeds should generally be sown immediately after 

 ripening. If the seed bed is out-of-doors, a sheltered 

 spot with moderately sandy soil must be chosen. 



After sowing, the seed should, in most cases, be 

 covered with about half an inch of soil. 



The soil must be kept moist, but not water-logged. 

 It is a good plan to place a layer of moss on the soil 



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