38 NOTES ON LILIES 



" When the stigmas are in a fit state, as may be seen by the coating of 

 glutinous matter they will have on them, the ripe pollen from any other 

 Lily may be readily introduced, either by using a camel's hair brush, or 

 by nipping off the anthers, and holding them between a pair of tweezers, 

 in which way they can be carried, and the stigma slightly touched till 

 thoroughly coated with the snuff-like pollen. One plant will bear 

 sufficient of this, if judiciously and carefully used, to fertilise a great many, 

 and each separate flower on the same plant may be crossed with as many 

 varieties, and if each is numbered to correspond with a memorandum kept 

 of the kinds employed, the result can be seen afterwards, and the work 

 will thus be rendered more interesting. Having operated on the flowers 

 as above, they should again be protected with the gauze or net, which 

 should be allowed to remain on till the seeds are fit to gather, as birds 

 are fond of them ; for I unfortunately lost the whole of mine last year 

 from their depredations, while I considered them safe. 



" Anyone who commences such an interesting branch of gardening as 

 this, is sure not to rest satisfied with trying his hand on Lilies, but will 

 seek fresh honours with other flowers equally deserving of attention ; and 

 if those who make a blade of grass grow where one never before grew, 

 deserve well of their country, how much more must the originator of any 

 new and beautiful flower do so, the sight and possession of which is 

 destined to be a new source of delight to so many ? It is only those who 

 have once tried the occupation of raising plants from seed, the result of 

 artificial fertilisation, that can realise what pleasure there is to be derived 

 from the work, and how absorbingly interesting it is to watch the- 

 seedlings from day to day, noting each change in leaf or bud, and hanging' 

 with fond hope on tho ultimate result, to be revealed only when the 

 bloom so slow in unfolding for one's impatience shall open ; and 

 yet perhaps then, if disappointing as a whole, the success is sufficient to 

 give fresh zest, and spur one on to renewed effort." T. Sheppard, 

 Gardeners' Chronicle, March 2th, 1877. 



" Will you allow me to- say a word or two ? I have been misunderstood! 

 in being supposed to have recommended growing Lilies in pots, to the 

 exclusion of the open ground. For some years past I have urged growing^ 

 all the Lily tribe among dwarf shrubs, recommending especially 

 Rhododendrons in peat, and long ago I exhibited a collection of blooms 

 from a bed in an old garden at Wands worth, to show how well Lilies 

 bloom and stand bad weather in sheltered situations, and have quoted the 

 garden of a friend in the not very genial climate near Rochdale to show 

 that Sjpeciosum can be bloomed well in unfavourable situations. I have 

 also been misunderstood in being supposed to produce fine growth by- 

 means of stimulants. I have been constantly told at South Kensington 

 that the fine growth of the Lilies I exhibited was due to high manuring,, 

 and found it almost hopeless to correct this impression, so perhaps you, 

 will allow me to say that (perhaps with the exception of Tigrinum, the 

 Fortunei variety of which Mr. Standish informs me he grew best well 

 manured) Lilies are grown best without manure that the Lilies of finest 



