4 NOTES ON LILIES 



with us on our light dry soil, as in one very rainy summer. So that 

 each soil has its favourite Lilies, and each cultivator will no doubt for 

 himself, by his own experience, determine the peculiarities of the 

 soil and climate in his own garden, this will enable him better to 

 follow the rules laid down by us. Of pure peaty soils we ourselves 

 have had no experience, only of very light, loamy, and prepared 

 mixed soils. 



And here comes in the question of a disease* among the Auratum 

 group, which has been closely observed by us during the past years, 

 and to which we think we have found a clue. It may be recognised 

 early by the curled, bent-over condition of the upper part of the 

 stem, and discoloured black or brown foliage. Presently, after 

 bright sunshine, the leaves shrivel and drop off, the stem withers, the 

 flowers become abortive, the bulbs, when taken up, are found to be 

 in a discoloured, decaying state, the upper set of roots are 

 imperfectly developed and unhealthy, the lower roots scanty, brown, 

 and discoloured, perhaps dead. This disease I have seen attacking 

 not merely imported or newly planted bulbs, but also those that have 

 been for several years unmoved. I have lost thousands of Auratum 

 from this cause, as also bulbs of Krameri, Umbellatum, and, in a 

 much less degree, Thunbergianum and Speciosum. 



All these bulbs have two sets of roots, one set emitted from their 

 base in autumn, the functions of which are to provide nourishment 

 for the bulb, the other in early summer, from the base of the stem, 

 to supply nourishment to the leaves and flowers. These roots in a 

 healthy mature plant are very abundant, and may be described as form- 

 ing a wig. If any one will examine a growing plant of Auratum, about 

 6 inches high, he will find at the junction of the stem with the bulb 

 a double ring of stout white roots, whose functions evidently, from 

 their appearance, must be an important one. Now if from any cause, 

 such as being too near the surface, insufficient moisture, or want of 

 pot room, these roots get dried up, scorched, or otherwise injured, 

 it is clear that either the stem and leaves will be deprived of 

 nourishment, or that they must obtain it from the bulb; in the 

 former case I believe that the disease which I have described, makes 

 its appearance ; in the latter, the bulbs get smaller and deteriorate, 

 a very common cause of complaint with people who cultivate Lilies 

 in pots, or who do not allow a sufficient supply of water. I attribute, 

 therefore, this so-called disease to a want of moisture experienced by 

 the upper set of roots ; it may be said that the lower roots may be 

 supplied with moisture, though the upper ones are not granted; 

 in that case, the lower roots will be more healthy, and help to keep 

 the bulb alive under the double burden laid upon it. 



I may here remark that the wet season in Japan, lasting through- 

 out the months of May and June, during which it rains more or less 

 daily, coincides with the period of stem and foliage growth, and the 

 * By some called " sunstroke." 



