92 GARDENING FOR BEGINNERS 



Pomponium verum, rubescens, speciosum, Szovitzianum, Washingtonianum, 

 and Wallichianum superbum. 



" Thirdly, we come to those that require peat and moisture, viz. Bur- 

 banki, canaderise, Grayi, Pardali?ium, Parryi, Philadelphicum, Roezlii 

 superbum. The above lists represent, in my opinion, those Lilies which 

 can be grown with little trouble. Those in the first list will succeed in 

 any ordinary border under conditions inferior to those already described 

 as essential for perfect cultivation. Those in the second list require a 

 certain amount of partial shade and coolness at the root, and are suitable 

 for planting in Rhododendron beds and amongst low growing shrubs. 

 Finally, the third group comprises those that require a cool, shady spot, 

 such as the edge of a pond or stream, or in a woodland glade. In addi- 

 tion to the species mentioned, there are a great number which are 

 capable of successful cultivation with a little extra care, varieties which 

 to an enthusiast would be indispensable. Having found the right posi- 

 tion and soil, the next step is to see about planting the bulbs, and at 

 what time this is best done. On this point great divergence of opinion 

 exists among the general public (I am not now speaking of Lily enthu- 

 siasts). In fact, I should say more Lilies are planted in the spring 

 months than in the autumn ; whereas it is plain to all those who look 

 into the matter that autumn is the best time to plant most of the 

 species. A Lily when in full growth is performing two functions 

 one developing, by means of its stem, the flowers, and the other, by 

 means of its basal roots, the bulb for next year's growth so that it 

 requires as much attention to its wants below the ground as above. 

 All Lilies do not have similar root action ; there are two classes. First, 

 those that make two sets of roots, one from the base of the bulb, the 

 other from the bottom of the flower stem. Second, the Lily that only 

 produces roots from the base of the bulbs. 



" Now it is obvious which Lily requires early planting and which 

 Lily can be planted late with reasonable hope of success. Those Lilies 

 that have only basal roots to depend upon must be well established before 

 they can flower with any degree of success: as, unless they are well 

 rooted, the stem has nothing to draw from and feed on except the bulb, 

 which naturally suffers. Whereas those that have two root actions 

 may be planted almost at any time, for as soon as the stem is about six 

 inches high, roots may be observed breaking out in small rings round 

 the base of it, which grow with exceeding vigour, and help and support 

 the stem to produce its flowers almost independently of the bulb. I 

 have often noticed when lifting L. auratum that those bulbs which had 

 plenty of basal roots had new well-formed bulb growth, whereas, when 

 it was absent, the bulb had flowered by means of the stem roots and 

 then collapsed. 



"I/ilium Martagon and its varieties, Chalcedonicum, Szovitzianum, 

 Dalmaticum, Humboldti, and others of a similar character, only produce 

 basal roots. The root action commences about the middle of October 

 or earlier, and continues during the winter. Therefore, if it is neces- 

 sary to lift the bulbs, it is best to do so before root action takes place, 

 for if the bulb be lifted after root action has commenced, and the roots 



