134 THE GOLD MINE 



One trouble has been in nnclerstanding tliem — their 

 nature and needs. Siberian lilies are covered deep with 

 snow in winter^ so are those of the Kockies, and the 

 natives of Minnesota and the E'orth. There are fine 

 ones growing in the woods of Canada. All these are 

 carefully covered up with the snow mantle in winter, 

 and this is the best covering ever devised. JSTow, 

 take these same plants from their OAvn habitat and 

 plant them on the open, bleak prairies of the West and 

 many of them will perish. The bare ground freezes 

 deep. They are often planted shallow, and so they die 

 for want of protection. Many are so hardy they will 

 endure anything. 



This is true of the Hermorocallis family and some 

 others. ■ ^ 



Generally, the soil is not prepared thoroughly enough, 

 and they are not planted deep enough.' Some dig a 

 trench, put manure in the bottom, then some fine earth, 

 then plant a foot deep, and cover with sand or light 

 earth, so the plant can readily push its way up. 



C. L. Allen, in a recent work, gives the following 

 directions: ^^To prepare a proper home for the Lily 

 the soil should be thrown out to the depth of two feet. 

 Then, in the bottom of the trench, put six inches of cow 

 manure ; then put on twelve inches of well rotted sod ; 

 on this put two inches of clean sand; then plant the 

 bulbs and cover with fine earth. But for the western 

 prairies this is not deep enough.'' From my own expe- 

 rience, I think a depth of eight to twelve inches is 

 preferable. Only be careful of the kind of earth witli 



