30 NOTES ON LILIES 



supports for which purpose are bamboo rods of suitable length, as in 

 colour and structure they so closely resemble the Lily stems that they are 

 scarcely observed, whilst they are far stronger than any other stick of 

 double their size. It is the practice of many cultivators of Lilies to take 

 up their bulbs after they have done blooming, and to winter them out of 

 the ground ; but this tends to weaken them very considerably, as the 

 large fleshy roots that would live in the ground if left undisturbed, are 

 completely destroyed ; and not only is this the case, but the bulbs shrivel 

 a good deal, thereby losing much of their weight and vital force, which 

 prevents them starting away so strong or flowering with anything like 

 the vigour and freedom they do when not interfered with. This being so, the 

 stems should be simply cut away close to the ground when thoroughly 

 ripe, which they generally are by the end of October ; and in order to 

 keep them snug for the winter it is as well to repeat the mulching. 

 Treated in this way they soon become strong and throw up immense 

 stems, that carry from ten to twenty or more of their magnificent flowers, 

 many of which are so strongly perfumed as to scent a moderate-sized garden. 

 " For pot culture Auratum is most valuable, as are also the several 

 kinds of Spp.ciosum which come in later in the autumn. These give a rich- 

 ness and character in the greenhouse or conservatory at that season quite 

 unattainable by any other plant, and a few pots of each should therefore 

 be grown wherever there is such a structure to be furnished. Single 

 bulbs of Auratum may be grown in deep 6 or 8 inch pots to great 

 perfection, and are even more suitable to stand among other plants than 

 when numbers are grown together. The best soil for them is a mixture 

 of good fat fibrous loam and peat, in the proportion of two-thirds of 

 the former to one of the latter, with just sufficient sand to keep it open 

 and porous, that water, of which they can scarce have too much when 

 growing freely and flowering, may pass through readily. In potting, the 

 bulbs should be placed low down in the pot, and simply covered, so as to 

 leave sufficient room to pack rough pieces of turfy loam around the young- 

 stems as growth proceeds, in which they will root freely and grow con- 

 siderably stronger than they otherwise would. In the case of all dormant 

 bulbs, and especially the Lily, any soil used for potting should be in a nice 

 healthy state as to moisture, which will obviate the necessity of having to 

 water till they have started well into growth and are able to take it up . 

 before any injury results from its lodging about their base and among the- 

 scales of the bulbs, which is a frequent cause of so many coming up weak 

 and afterwards dwindling* away altogether. The best place to stand them 

 till they appear above the soil, is under the greenhouse stage away from 

 drip, or in any cold pit having a damp firm bottom impenetrable to worms, 

 as there the soil can be kept in much the same state with regard to 

 moisture as at the time of potting, and the longer it remains in that con- 

 dition without having to water, the stronger and better will the growth be. 

 " After the pots have become well filled with roots and the plants are 

 moving on freely, weak liquid manure applied occasionally will be of the 

 greatest assistance to them till just after the flowers are fully expanded,, 

 when its use should be discontinued, and less water" given as -the ripening 

 off proceeds a process that in no case should be hurried on, as is. 



