408 On forcing the common White Lily. 



Art. III. On Forcing the common White Lily. 

 By the Editor. 



This common and beautiful lily of the garden, with its petals 

 of the purest white, and breathing an odor almost as sweet and 

 exquisite as the orange flower, may be as easily forced as the hy- 

 acinth or the tulip. Though we have rarely seen any attempts 

 made to grow the while lily in the winter season, yet it can be 

 done, and without any remarkable attention. So robust in its 

 habit when standing in the open border, it has been supposed that 

 it would be, like many other large and strong growing bulbs, dif- 

 ficult to bloom, on account of the cramped and confined state of 

 the roots, necessarily suffering in a small pot. This, however, 

 we have found to make no material difference; and generally the 

 same pot which should be selected to bloom a hyacinth in the 

 greatest perfection, is sufficiently large to flower the white lily in 

 equal vigor. Pots which we have always designated in our arti- 

 cles as number 4's are those which we have generally made use 

 of; but we presume, that what we term a hyacinth pot would 

 be equally as well adapted to the lily, and the vigor of the plants 

 greater. 



Now is the time to plant the roots; but they should have 

 been taken from the ground in due season, that is, by the middle 

 of August, or, at the latest, before they begin to throw out their 

 new roots for the coming season. If not taken up before this, the 

 plants will be so injured by removal that they will not flower in 

 any perfection, and, in general, unless remarkably strong, not at 

 all. The plants should be removed in August, and laid away in 

 a dry place till wanted. 



The soil requisite for forcing the lily should be light and rich; 

 good soil from the garden, mixed with a portion of leaf mould or 

 very rotten manure, will suit them well. They should be plant- 

 ed in the pots just deep enough to have the earth cover the top 

 of the bulbs. After this, set them away in a pit or frame, where 

 they may remain until they are wanted to bloom, when they should 

 be brought into the green-house and placed upon the stage where 

 they will have plenty of air and light. It will be necessary, if the 

 pots remain out, to cover them with straw, leaves or hay, to 

 prevent the earth from freezing, or the roots cannot extend them- 

 selves; the pots would also be broken, and it would be impossible 

 to bring the plants into the house at successive periods as it would 

 be desirable to do. 



When they begin to grow, allow them a good supply of water, 

 and as they progress it should be more liberally administered, 



