420 FRITZ BAHR'S COMMERCIAL FLORICULTURE 



Fig. 197. EASTER LILIES. If a few hundred bulbs of Lilium longiflorum develop 

 into flowering plants just in time for Easter week they will pay well. But most 

 smaller florists find it more profitable to let the specialists grow their Lilies for them 



can get at the bulbs as soon as they reach you. There are growers 

 who prefer planting the bulbs in the smallest size pot possible and 

 shifting them in about six weeks or so; then there are some who use 

 5- and 6-in. pots and let them remain in these pots; others who 

 plant the bulbs one inch or so below the surface ; some who have the 

 tops just even with the surface; and still others who have them stick 

 above the soil an inch or so. Some place the pots under a bench 

 on top of each other, some put them in a frame and some place 

 them at once on top of the bench. 



Well, all these ways are all right, but to my mind, they have 

 absolutely nothing to do with success or failure. Use common 

 sense, make use of a fair, porous soil and drainage in each pot; 

 start the bulb slowly in a 50-deg. house, and when once rooted and 

 growth has begun gradually increase your temperature to 60 deg. and 

 keep it there. If you have sound, well-matured bulbs to start with, 

 such as haven't suffered in transit (which is often beyond the power 

 of the importer or cannot be noticed in looking at the bulbs) you 

 are reasonably sure of success if you keep up the temperature, 

 keep the plants clean of insects and water them properly. 



Read the experience of the most successful Lily growers, and 

 this will be the sum and substance of their story. The fewer Lilies 

 you force in the same house with a lot of other stock, the more certain 

 you are of success. When a whole house is devoted to their culture 

 with proper heating facilities and one man in charge to attend 



