COMMERCIAL VALUE OF FLOWERS 219 



Lilies-of-the-valley may be propagated by seeds, which 

 ripen freely if allowed, and should be sown in the spring 

 outside. The usual method of propagation, however, is 

 by the numerous crowns which form at the joints of 

 creeping roots, or underground stems. If the crowns are 

 allowed to grow undisturbed, they become too thickly 

 crowded, and do not produce such fine flowers as when 

 more space is afforded. 



Select and prepare a piece of ground in a border, with 

 either an east or west aspect. It should be manured and 

 well trenched. The crowns should be lifted in the fall, or 

 at any time before growth commences in the spring, and 

 placed together, according to their size. 



In planting, a shallow trench should be cut out, the 

 crowns placed upright in it about two inches apart, so 

 that their points are just below the surface, and the soil 

 filled in. Other trenches may then be prepared and 

 planted in a similar way, leaving a space of about nine 

 inches between them. Hoe occasionally to keep the sur- 

 face open and clean, and watering in dry weather, until 

 the leaves dry away, will be all that is necessary after- 

 ward. Crowns thus treated may be lifted for forcing the 

 following winter, if required, but they are much stronger 

 if allowed to stay until the second year. The crowns to 

 be used for early forcing should be placed rather thickly 

 in pots or boxes, and a little light soil shaken among the 

 roots; but not over the tops. They should be covered 

 with moss. 



Another plan is to insert them similarly in propaga- 

 tion frames, and pot up as they come into flower. The 

 roots do not grow during this period, consequently it is 

 immaterial which method is adopted. Plunge in a bot- 

 tom heat of about 85 degrees, and if possible maintain a 

 surface temperature of 10 degrees less. This will en- 

 courage the production of leaves and flowers and at the 

 same time — conditions not readily obtained with the 



