Sixteen] tf W jjel 183 



A heavy mulch of old manure and rough litter 

 should be given in the winter, and the bed protected 

 with leaves and evergreen boughs, or anything that 

 will shed water. 



Spring-planted bulbs rarely do well. It is better 

 to plant after severe cold weather sets in than to wait 

 until spring. As long as the ground can be worked 

 they may be planted safely, but they should be set 

 eight or ten inches deep. I have planted them late in 

 December when the ground had to be broken with 

 an axe and have had excellent success. 



The planting of hardy Lilies should be done on a 

 scale limited only by one's means and the ground at 

 command. A few new and rare sorts should be added 

 every year. In this way a magnificent collection will, 

 in time, be acquired, as they increase very rapidly 

 under favourable conditions, and the larger the clumps 

 of one kind the finer the effect, so that each variety 

 should be given abundant room to spread and develop. 



It is often stated that Lilies left to themselves place 

 their bulbs near the surface. Such bulbs are the small 

 ones that form on the blossom stalk above the main 

 bulb, and lie near the surface from force of circum- 

 stances. The main bulb sends its offshoots deep in 

 the ground, as in the case of our native Lilies, which 

 are almost impossible to dig. Especially is this the 

 case with the native Flame Lily, the bulb of which I 

 have never been able to reach with a trowel. Travel- 

 lers in Japan report various native Lilies growing in 



