Lilium auratutn. 



LILIUM AURATUM. 



Thanks are due to our noble line of steamers plying between San Fran- 

 cisco and Japan that this magnificent floral production can now be had at 

 prices low enough to place it within the reach of all. A few lines respect- 

 ing our unsuccessful as well as our successful mode of culture may be of 

 interest to some of your readers. 



A large proportion of the first importations both to Europe and our own 

 countr}', owing to improper packing, were a total loss ; while those which 

 showed signs of life were so much enfeebled by their long voyage, that a well- 

 grown specimen was rarely to be found. Many bulbs which appeared 

 quite sound when planted, would, after attaining a few inches in height, 

 dwindle away, there not being vitality enough to sustain their rapid growth. 

 Those who succeeded in growing them were amply repaid for their trouble ; 

 and we often see accounts in English papers of the large size to which the 

 bulbs have attained, rewarding their enthusiastic cultivator by throwing up 

 their vigorous shoots, several in number, from four to eight feet in height, 

 bearing immense clusters of from fifty to a hundred flowers, measuring 

 from ten to fourteen inches in diameter, filling the air with their delicious 

 fragrance, and drawing crowds of admirers for miles to witness the beauti- 

 ful sight. 



We were among the first importers in tliis country ; having received a 

 number from England the first year it was oflered, and, subsequently, a 

 much larger lot from Japan direct. Like many others who think that too 

 much attention cannot be bestowed upon a rare plant, we determined to 

 give it the best possible treatment. We prepared our compost with the 

 choicest material at our command ; using peat, leaf -mould, well-decomposed 

 manure, silver sand, decayed turf, and loam, mixing with the greatest care. 

 Our bulbs were carefully looked over (the decayed portions removed with 

 a sharp knife), potted, and placed in a cool, shady part of the greenhouse, 

 watered sparingly, and watched daily. Some commenced growth in two 

 or three weeks, others from sbc to eight weeks, and many gradually decayed. 

 Some grew vigorously, and soon showed their flower-buds ; when, of a sud- 

 den, the lower leaves commenced to turn brown, one by one dropped, and 



