AND THEIR CULTURE. 15 



flowering power for that year, and that they require another season 

 to make new growth in the interior of the bulb, from whence a 

 flowering stem will emerge the following season. With regard to the 

 rosy tint observable on many bulbs, it simply represents the amount 

 of oxygenation consequent on exposure to the air, something similar 

 to the greening of Potatoes. A light pale-coloured bulb, taken up 

 and exposed for a few days to the sun's rays, changes tint, in 

 L. Concolor to a lilac, in L. Excel sum to a pale mauve, in L. Speciosum 

 to a deep rosy red. Conversely, a deeply-tinted bulb, if planted 

 several inches below the surface for a year or two, will pale its tints. 



CHAPTER II. 

 LETTERS ON LILIES FROM 



FOREIGN CORRESPONDENTS. 



We append a few notes about Indian, Japanese, and North 

 American Lilies, received from reliable correspondents, interspersed 

 with valuable remarks thereon from experienced Lily cultivators, 

 which we believe will be acceptable to our readers, as enabling them 

 to realise and imitate better the conditions under which some Lilies 

 grow in their native habitats. 



" L. Wallicliianum grows only in the deep dells. The wear and tear in 

 a temperature of 120, and in glens fall of malaria, is by no means 

 inviting. We must climb 1000 feet, and more sometimes, and drop down 

 again into the valley on the other side, before we can expect to find 

 anything. It is no joke after such a day's pull to return home without 

 more road than a sheep track, and without a single root into the bargain. 

 L. Thomsonianum is abundant, but difficult to rear, as it grows here only 

 in very finely comminuted limestone gravel. It is a weed on the lower 

 limestone hills, and flowers abundantly in March and April, growing in 

 very finely comminuted or crushed limestone, with a thin layer of good 

 black vegetable mould above to the depth of 2 to 3 inches, the roots being 

 in the limestone gravel, and thoroughly drained. The season at that 

 time is warm, and showers only fall occasionally. After seeding, the 

 plant dries and disappears. I have never been able to rear them in any 

 other soil. I am waiting for a cool, shady day, when I shall descend and 

 have a hunt; but until heavy rains fall (May 16) no Lilies will be found. 

 L. Wallicliianum is still dormant, except one in very light rich soil, which 

 we planted last year. L. Gicjantenm is not found so low as this (6000 feet 

 above sea level), but occurs higher up, and more in the interior. It is 

 difficult to keep the bulb from rotting unless the soil is both good and 

 light. If the earth cakes round the bulb it is sure to rot; it likes the 

 cold, and is found on slopes shaded by trees and brushwood." Mussooree, 

 from an Indian Correspondent. 



