34 NOTES ON LILIES . 



brown dust may be prevented from shaking off on to the petals, as it sadly 

 disfigures the flowers. I have seen them brought to an exhibition when 

 this precaution has been neglected, and the flowers were entirely spoiled." 

 /. Douglas, Hort. Jour., Oct. 20, 1870. 



" There are few who have not seen and admired the gorgeous beauties 

 of one or other of the many varieties of Lilies now in cultivation, or who 

 have not been charmed by the stately purity -'of L. Candidum and its sweet 

 -odour. It was, however, reserved to L. Auratum to take us by storm, and 

 bring the merits of this beautiful genus of plants prominently before the 

 public. Never before, probably, has there been anything like the demand 

 for a particular flower that has now existed for years for bulbs of this 

 Lily. Hundreds of thousands have been sent over from Japan, and it is 

 to be hoped as many more will follow, so that every one who has a garden 

 may feast his eyes on one of the most magnificent flowers it is possible to 

 see. Some of the varieties of Lilies, such as Martagon, Tigrinum,, 

 Candiduw, Chalcedonicum, and a few others, will do in almost any kind of 

 soil, and succeed admirably in such as is of a stiff loamy nature. The 

 choice kinds, however, are more particular, and require either peat or 

 plenty of sharp grit, but in the latter case it must be where they can drive 

 their roots down in a cool, moist bottom. The margins of Rhododendron 

 beds, where gaps occur among the plants, is just the place to grow them 

 to perfection, and in no position do they show up so effectively as when 

 backed by the rich glossy deep green leaves of this favourite shrub. 

 Failing a situation of this kind, the next best place is the shrubbery 

 border, as it is essential they should have partial shade and shelter of 

 eome kind. 



" The heads of flowers require this on account of their enormous size and 

 consequent liability to be blown about and damaged by the wind, while 

 the roots will only succeed really well where they are so situated as to be 

 screened from the sun, which causes the ground to become too much 

 iheated and robs it of its moisture. This dryness of the soil is one of the 

 most frequent causes of failure in Lily culture, as it generally occurs at or 

 about the time the plants are developing their flowers, when they require 

 more assistance than they do at any other time, owing to the demand that 

 is made on the roots, and if these cannot respond in a proper manner the 

 bulbs as a natural consequence become so weak and exhausted that they 

 dwindle away and eventually die altogether. To grow them in the style in 

 which they ought be had, one of the principal and most important things is 

 to keep the foliage fresh and healthy up to the latest period possible, so as to 

 prevent any premature ripening, which must of necessity take place at 

 the expense of the bulb ; and this can only be done b}' affording them an 

 abundant supply of water and mulching the soil immediately surrounding 

 them. Although the price of most of the best kinds of Lilies is somewhat 

 against them, they are of such a permanent character compared with most 

 other plants, that their first cost ought not to be a matter of consideration, 

 as they are really cheap in the end, and there is nothing that can 

 at all compare with them in the grand display they make and the small 

 amount of labour entailed in their cultivation. 



