70 THE UNHEATED GREENHOUSE 



Of the later flowering Lilies L. tigrinum, though one of the 

 oldest garden species, is still one of the most beautiful, but 

 the variety called Superbum is the only one well adapted for 

 pot culture. Its very distinct shade of deep apricot, however, 

 makes this variety valuable for the purpose, as well as its 

 intermediate season of flowering. 



But our greatest standby for autumn is the Japanese 

 L. speciosum, in its different varieties, flowering naturally as 

 it does in August and September. This Lily, which used to 

 be known as L. lancifolium, is not always recognised under 

 the newer name, but it is too familiar to need description. 

 The three forms are represented by L. speciosum roseum, 

 L. speciosum rubrum, and L. Krastzeri, which is the best of 

 the white varieties, and may be distinguished by the pale 

 green stripe down the centre of each petal. A deep red 

 variety is known as Melpomene. 



In growing these and other Lilies, it is well to know which 

 species naturally throw out stem-roots and which do not, as 

 it indicates a different system of potting. Of those which 

 have been mentioned, L. Alexandras, L. auratum, L. elegans, 

 L. Henryi, L. longiflorum, L. speciosum, and L. tigrinum all 

 have stem-roots, and should be potted low, leaving a space of 

 2 in. or 3 in. above the bulbs for a liberal top-dressing as 

 soon as these stem-roots begin to push. Without this, they 

 will wither away for lack of nourishment, and the flowers will 

 greatly suffer. On the contrary, L. candidum and L. Grayi 

 root from the base only, and should be potted with the top of 

 the bulbs almost on a level with the soil, only taking care to 

 leave a sufficient rim for proper watering a necessity often 

 overlooked when potting is done by an inexperienced hand. 

 I have found the long pots recommended before for Alstro- 

 meria extremely useful for Lily culture, especially for the 

 stem-rooting kinds. In buying new bulbs no time should be 

 lost in potting them as soon as received. 



