ON LILIES 



of which were compact, resembling pears or apples 

 in form. 



Another striking peculiarity of the bulb was 

 that some of them had scales that were solid, as in 

 the Washingtonianiim, while in others of the same 

 lot the scales would be divided into several separ- 

 ate divisions, each of which would grow a form of 

 new bulb under proper conditions. Some of the 

 bulbs when exposed to sunlight would turn to a 

 brilliant crimson, while others after exposure for 

 any length of time were white or yellow or varie- 

 gated. There was similar variation as to the 

 resistance to decay. 



I may add that some of the little bulbs, notably 

 those of L. Brownii, are edible and are considered 

 a great Christmas delicacy by the Chinese, who 

 make most delicious stews and soups from these 

 bulbs. I myself have eaten the bulbs of L. Brownii, 

 grown on the Sebastopol place, and have found 

 them to have a most delicious oyster-like flavor. 

 The possibility of these lilies as food producers 

 have not hitherto been given the attention they 

 deserve. All these lilies have bitter bulbs, and they 

 are fairly resistant to eel worms, milliped, and 

 thrip, etc., whereas the Brownii is invariably 

 destroyed in the second year, and can only be 

 grown in new soils. All the true lilies finally suc- 

 cumb on old soils. I have tried to eliminate the 



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