LILIUM. 



THE ENGLISH FLOWER GARDEN. 



LILIUM. 



641 



flowers, is a variety of L. pomponium, 

 and the red form is much inferior to the 

 true L. pomponium, though generally sold 

 for it. These varieties require the same 

 culture as L. pomponium. L. pomponium 

 has an extremely offensive odour, and is 

 not, therefore, likely to be used for cutting. 

 L. speciosum, or lancifolium as it is 

 erroneously called, is one of the most 

 popular for pot-culture, and is no less 

 desirable for the open air, though, being 

 somewhat delicate, it is grown to per- 

 fection under glass. It is well known, 

 and we need not describe it, but we will 

 mention the chief varieties. There is the 

 true speciosum, which has large deep rosy 

 blossoms, richly spotted ; vestale, pure 

 white ; album, white or faintly tinged with 

 pink ; rubrum, deep red ; roseum, rosy- 

 pink ; punctatum, white spotted with 

 pink ; Krastzeri, very large white flowers 

 with greenish stripe on the exterior ; 

 album novum, a somewhat finer variety 

 with light orange anthers, and broader 

 petals of great substance ; fasciatum 

 album and fasciatum rubrum, two 

 monstrous varieties bearing numerous 

 flowers on flattened stems. Among the 

 more beautiful Japanese forms are roseum, 

 superbum, and formosum, and rubrum 

 macranthum, cruentum, compactum, and, 

 darkest of all, Melpomene (not the Ameri- 

 can Melpomene). In this group must also 

 be included the fine L. Henryi, an orange- 

 coloured speciosum, first sent to this country 

 by Dr. Henry from Central China, and ap- 

 propriately named after him. It is a strong 

 grower, perfectly hardy, and from its 

 unique tint and bold growth a grand 

 acquisition to our gardens. Other fine 

 varieties have originated in America, and 

 .among these Melpomene is very distinct. 

 The beautiful hybrid, Mrs. A. Waterer, is 

 large, white, and spotted with pink. All 

 the varieties require shelter from winds 

 and draughts, and a rich loamy soil 

 mixed with peat and leaf-manure. They 

 flower for the most part in September, 

 and last longer in bloom than many 

 other Lilies. In good soils, very happy 

 use can be made of these handsome Lilies 

 in warm and sheltered places where their 

 blooms may be fully developed. 



L. superbum (Swamp Lily}. One of 

 the stateliest of N. American Lilies, 

 bearing late in summer beautiful orange- 

 red flowers, thickly spotted. It may be 

 recognised at once by its purple-tinged 

 stems, which rise 5 to 10 ft. high, and 

 which are very graceful, waving with the 

 slightest breeze. A pyramid of flowers ter- 

 minates each stem. L. superbum delights 

 in moist deep soil consisting chiefly of 



peaty and decayed leaf-manure, and 

 is one of the best Lilies for growing in 

 shady woods when the undergrowth is 

 not too rank. In the garden it should 

 have snug glades and nooks protected by 

 shrubs, and moist rich soil. L. caro- 

 linianum is a less showy form. 



L. tenuifolium. A most elegant dwarf 

 Lily, especially valuable for earliness in 

 flowering. It is i to i^ ft. high, and has 

 narrow leaves on slender stems, furnished 

 with a cluster of about a dozen brilliant 

 red turban-shaped flowers, which shine 

 like sealing-wax. It succeeds in open 

 warm borders of light sandy loam, but is 

 all the better for a hand-light or frame, as 

 it flowers very early. Siberia and N. 

 China. L. callosum and its form, steno- 

 phyllum, are similar but less showy. 



L. testaceum (Nankeen Lily}. This 

 is a distinct-coloured Lily, and should 

 always be grown, being of easy culture 





agutf* 



Lilium testaceum. 



and thriving in any ordinary soil, though 

 preferring one that is peaty. It has the 

 growth of the white L. candidum, but the 

 flowers are a delicate apricot, or nankeen, 

 colour. When well grown it is 6 or 7 ft, 

 high, and bears several flowers in a large 

 head. Other names for this Lily are 

 L. excelsum and isabellinum. It is 

 one of the plants that grow freely in 

 London. 



L. tigrinum (Tiger Lily}. This is one 

 of the commonest kinds, and is too well 

 known to need description. No garden 

 should be without it, for few plants are so 

 attractive or have such stately growth. 

 The common kind is handsome, but the 

 variety splendens is much finer, having 

 larger flowers with larger spots, is pro- 

 duced later, and grows 7 ft. high. For- 

 tunei is an early form and as desirable as 



T T 



