27O HOME FLORICULTURE 



such injury can be prevented by deep covering, com- 

 bined with deep planting. If you were to ask me the 

 two things of greatest importance in Lily-growing, 

 I would answer, protection from the action of frost 

 in winter, and thorough drainage. 



In planting Lilies, I would advise putting sand 

 immediately about each' bulb. This is not absolutely 

 necessary, but it is advisable in most soils, as sand is 

 almost wholly devoid of vegetable matter, for which 

 most garden varieties seem to have little liking. An 

 old gardener once told me that it was an easy matter 

 to kill a Lily by planting it in muck or leaf mold. 

 I think he overestimated the danger, but I have 

 always seen the finest Lilies growing in soils free from 

 decaying vegetation. 



The following kinds are among the best for the 

 amateur : 



Auratum, the "Gold-Banded Lily." One of the 

 most magnificent ornaments of the garden, when well 

 grown. Its flowers are often eight inches across. 

 They are pure white, as to ground color, with red 

 spots on each thick, waxen petal, and a gold band 

 running from tip to calyx. (Fig 69.) 



Brownii. A superb species, with large, trumpet- 

 shaped flowers, pure white inside, and purple without. 



Excelsum. Apricot yellow. A stately plant. 

 Fine for grouping. 



Rubrum, red. 



Album, pure white. 



Speciosum, extremely beautiful. There are many 

 varieties, the most distinct of which are album, rubrum 

 and roseum. 



Candidum, an old species, but quite as desirable 

 as any of the newer sorts. White, and delightfully 

 fragrant. 



Tigrinum, or "Tiger Lily," another old favorite, 



