ON THE CULTURE OF THE GUERNSEY LILY. 237 



sufficient to make the bulbs vegetate a few weeks earlier than usual in 

 the autumn. 



Early in the summer of 1816, a bulb, which had blossomed in the 

 preceding autumn, was subjected to such a degree of artificial heat, as 

 occasioned it to vegetate six weeks, or more, earlier than it would other- 

 wise have done. It did not, of course, produce any flowers ; but in the 

 following season, it blossomed early, and strongly, and afforded two 

 offsets. These were put, in the spring of 1818, into pots, containing 

 about one-eighth of a square foot light and rich mould, and were fed 

 with manured water, and their period of vegetation was again accelerated 

 by artificial heat. Their leaves, consequently, grew yellow from matu- 

 rity, early in the present spring, when the pots were placed in rather a 

 shady situation, and near a north wall, to afford me an opportunity of 

 observing to what extent, in such a situation, the early production of the 

 leaves in the preceding seasons had changed the habit of the plant. I 

 entertained no doubt but that both the bulbs would afford blossoms, but 

 I was much gratified by the appearance of the blossoms in the first week 

 in July. Wishing to obtain seeds, I then removed the plants to a 

 forcing-house, in which they have flowered very strongly ; and the 

 appearance of the seed-vessels gives much reason to suppose that I shall 

 succeed in obtaining seeds, though I am not at present able to speak 

 decisively. 



From the success of the preceding experiment, I conclude that if the 

 offsets, and probably the bulbs, of this plant which have produced flowers, 

 be placed in a moderate hot-bed, in the end of May, to occasion the 

 early production of their leaves, blossoms would be constantly afforded in 

 the following season : but it will be expedient to habituate the leaves, 

 thus produced, gradually to the open air, as soon as they are nearly 

 full grown, and to protect them from frost till the approach of spring. 



Should seedling plants be obtained, the powers of life in those, will 

 probably prove more alert : and I think it probable, that, xvith a mode- 

 rate degree of care, these may be made to afford blossoms in successive 

 seasons ; though it should be found impracticable to give that habit to 

 the onsets of the individual seedling plant, now in cultivation. 



