Hybrids of L ilium aiiratum. 201 



HYBRIDS OF LILIUM AURATUM. 



By Francis Parkman, Jamaica Plain, Mass. 



This superb lily certainly has not the hardiness of constitution of the 

 old Japan lilies; that is to say, the varieties oi Liliuin lancifoUum. Now, if 

 the size and the fragrance of the one could be combined with the robust 

 constitution, and the bright, clear coloring, of the other, it would be a great 

 acquisition. 



Six years ago, we impregnated the flowers of Z. landfoUum with the pollen 

 of L. auratum, which had then just made its appearance. Impregnation 

 took place readily ; and we obtained a considerable quantity of seed, though 

 a great deal of it was lost from mildew. During this summer, many of the 

 plants have blossomed ; and the result is sufficiently curious. In the first 

 place, we should say that there can be no doubt that hybridization actually 

 took place, as the anthers of the flower to be impregnated were all 

 removed before they matured ; and the operation was carried on in the 

 greenhouse, whicli contained no other lilies of any kind. The young lilies, 

 during the first two or three years of their growtli, showed marked signs that 

 they had inherited the blood of L. auratum, their leaves being narrower, 

 and their stems mottled with darker spots, than in the case of the unmixed 

 Z. lancifoiiiun. But, when it came to the flowering, the result was different 

 from what might have been expected. In the entire bed, one plant, and 

 one only, showed the peculiar flower-bud of Z. auratiim. This bud grew 

 rapidly, immeasurably surpassed all those of the other plants in size, and 

 blossomed three weeks earlier than any of them. The bulb which bore it 

 was not larger than a pigeon's egg, and the stem was no thicker than a 

 stout knitting-needle ; yet the flower measured nine inches and a half in 

 diameter. In color, it was like a very deeply-colored variety of Z. lancifolium; 

 but it had the fragrance of Z. auratum. When the bulb has reached its 

 full growth, the flower will undoubtedly be much larger, and, in all proba- 

 bility, the plant will prove as hardy as its female parent. 



Now, as to the other seedlings in the bed, most of them are at this moment 

 in bloom, and the flowers show no traces whatever of their paternal parent- 

 age. To all appearance, they are varieties of L. lancifolium^ and nothing 



