78 THE BOOK OF THE LILY 



good soil when the flower stem is developing, as a 

 number of roots are pushed out just at its base, and if 

 they are surrounded by nourishing soil the plant will 

 develop into a finer specimen. 



After potting, the pots may be placed out of doors 

 and covered with cocoa-nut refuse, or they can be placed 

 in a cold frame, which will protect from heavy rains. 

 If the soil is kept slightly moist the bulbs will gradually 

 root, and as they develop with growth, ample ventila- 

 tion must be given. 



By April the lights should only be used to ward off 

 sharp frosts, but after that no protection is required. 



In the case of those plunged outside in cocoa-nut 

 refuse, care must be taken this be removed from the 

 tops of the pots at the first signs of the growing shoots 

 above the soil, otherwise the growths become bleached 

 and weakened. A mat covering in frosty weather will 

 be sufficient protection^ During the summer and till 

 the flowering time the best place for the pots is where 

 they will be shaded from the full sun at mid-day. 

 Watering well during all the stages of active growth 

 is an essential condition for well grown plants. 



Insect pests rarely if ever give any trouble in the 

 case of this Lily, excepting green fly, which can be 

 washed away out of the tips of the shoots. 



The varieties rubro-vtttatum, Wittei (virginale), and mac- 

 ranthum (platyphylluni) are more adapted for pot culture 

 than the typical or common variety. 



The details of growing L. auratum in pots apply to 

 the species enumerated below. 



L. Ero'wni. Grows best fully exposed to the sun, as 

 full exposure deepens the beautiful chocolate tint of the 

 outer surfaces of the petals. The same remarks apply 

 to its variety odorum Colchester ense. 



L. concolor. This small growing species is most 

 effective when three or four bulbs are put in a pot 



