12 MASS. EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN 376 



Stem Grozvth. — The higher temperatures at which lily bulbs were rooted 

 not only affected root growth but also stimulated top or stem growth. 

 At the termination of 70 days of growing, bulbs rooted at 52°-55° F. had 

 an average stem height of 7.87 inches as compared to 11.00 inches of stem 

 growth at 62°-65° P., and 13.30 inches at 70°-72° F. At a temperature of 

 80°-82° F. the rate of stem growth was retarded and plants developed 

 long internodes as compared to a shorter type of internode produced by 

 bulbs rooted at temperatures of 52°-55° F. and 62°-65° F. Plants grown 

 from bulbs rooted at 80°-82° F. had a tendency to drop considerable 

 foliage along the lower portion of the stems. See Table 1, and Figure 

 1, C and D. 



Table 1. — Influence of Rooting Temperatures on Rate of Stem 



Growth of Lilium longiflorum giganteum. 



Waltham, Mass., 1936-37 



Rooting Average Height of Plants 



Temperature 70 days from Potting 



(Inches) 

 Cabinets 



52-55° F 7.87 



62-65° F 11.00 



70-72° F 13.30 



80-82° F 11.87 



Greenhouse 



50-55° F 8.75 



60-65° F 13.37 



Floiver Production. — The number of flowers produced per bulb was slightly 

 greater at 60°-65° F. than at 40°-45° F. rooting temperatures, as shown 

 in Table 2. Flower production was the lowest when the bulbs were rooted 

 at 70°-80° F. There was no perceptible difference in size or texture of 

 blooms produced by bulbs rooted at the dift'erent temperatures. 



Table 2. — Relation of Rooting Temperatures to Number of Buds 



Produced by Lilium longiflorum gtganteum. 



Waltham, Mass., 1936-37 



Rooting Average Number of Average Number of 



Temperature Bulbs P'orcod Buds Produced 



per Plant 

 Cabinets 



40-45° F 25 4.00 



50-55° F 53 3.86 



60-65° F 53 4.86 



70-80° F 35 3.52 



Greenhouse 



50-55° F 53 4.22 



60-65° F 53 4.46 



