AND THEIE CULTURE. 117 



of Davuricum, only larger), the broadly lance-shaped, fleshy scales 

 being 2 to 3 inches in length, and closely imbricated in freshly- 

 dug bulbs, more open and loose in the old flowering specimens, and 

 whitish in their colour, some of the outer scales becoming light rosy- 

 fjurple on exposure. Large bulbs after flowering give rise to three 

 or four centres, a not uncommon occurrence, however, in other 

 vigorous-habited Lilies. The plant is unknown in a wild state, and 

 is thought to be a hybrid between the common white Candidum and 

 scarlet Clialcedonicum or scarlet Turlt's-cap Lily. 



Duchartre has pointed out the great difference observable in the 

 periods occupied by the germination of different kinds of Lily seeds, 

 inasmuch as while those of Tenuifolium germinate in a few weeks, 

 and form little bulbs bearing several leaves within the first year, the 

 seeds of Auratum and of other kinds lie in the ground at least a year 

 before they show any signs of leaf growth. A proportionate difference 

 is observable in the time which elapses between the germination of 

 the seed, and the blooming period of the resulting seedling plants ; 

 and seeing that these differences exist, it is not surprising to find that 

 there is an individuality about some Lily bulbs, notably in the case 

 of Polypliyllum, Auratum, and Tenuifolium, by which they may be 

 identified the first or second year from seed, or, at least in most cases, 

 long before they have attained their full dimensions and flowering 

 .stage'. Neither botanists nor cultivators give plants sufficient credit 

 for their indescribable characters, which are often, as in the case of 

 Lilies, observable almost from the appearance of the first young seed 

 growth. These characters in the case of many nearly related varieties 

 of other cultivated plants, as in Heaths, Rhododendrons, and Grape 

 Vines, are amply sufficient to enable cultivators to distinguish plants 

 of any variety with unerring accuracy, notwithstanding the fact that 

 any attempt to describe their minor differences in words would be 

 useless for purposes of discrimination and selection. Hence it is 

 no uncommon occurrence to find cultivators who can recognize 

 unmistakably almost all varieties of Heaths or Grape Vines by their 

 woody growth or foliage alone. And if ever we are to know any- 

 thing more of plant life in its highest bearings, we must put in 

 practice De Candolle's advice to Mrs. Somerville, and live with, and 

 observe the cycle of plant growth in all its stages from the germina- 

 tion of the seed to the full development of the fruits. Although our 

 sketches and descriptions herewith concluded show a remarkable 

 .diversity in the form and growth of Lily bulbs, it must not be sup- 

 posed that the underground stem development of Lilies, Crocuses, 

 Fritillarias, and other allied bulbous plants is alone worthy of con- 

 sideration, since the true root growth of many trees, shrubs, and 

 herbaceous plants is in many cases even more distinct and constant 

 in character than are the aboveground stems, leaves, flowers, or fruits. 



