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Notwithstanding this, so desirable is the 

 golden-banded lily, that it is worth any amount 

 of trouble to establish. Peat, with the addition 

 of sharp sand, seems to meet its cultural require- 

 ments best, although it does well among Onoclea 

 ferns, in soil largely composed of black " muck " 

 or decayed wood. A sufficiency of water it 

 must have, and abundance of shade is absolutely 

 necessary to success. The midday sun is fatal to 

 it. A flickering shade, I should say, is best for 

 this and most lilies. It should also be placed 

 where it will not be subject to high winds. The 

 auratum is one of the most protracted of the 

 genus in its flowering period, and scarcely two 

 of a number of bulbs planted at the same time 

 come into flower simultaneously. There are 

 numerous varieties of this species, all of which 

 are beautiful ; the more pronounced the terra- 

 cotta spots and vivid the color of the ray or cen- 

 tral band, the finer the flower. 



I regard a well -grown Lilium auratum, 

 with a strong stalk rising to a height of five or 

 six feet, supporting its dozen or more deliciously- 

 scented blooms, as the grandest of all hardy 

 flowers. It is worth planting a hundred bulbs 

 to establish one such embodiment of floral 

 beauty. When I stand in its lovely presence I 

 am repaid for any trouble ; and I freely forgive 



