Gardening for Amateurs 



grower, and that is, do not allow the bulbs 

 to become dry by exposure to the air ; if 

 it is not possible to place them in their 

 permanent quarters the bulbs should be 

 protected from outside influences by a 

 covering of soil or of coco-nut refuse kept 

 only moderately moist. With regard to the 

 decorative value of Lilies, it is questionable 

 if they are equalled, much less surpassed, 

 by any other class of plants. In the open 

 ground their season begins, as a rule, before 

 the end of May with the Yellow Martagon 

 (Lilium pyrenaicum) and does not end until 

 the autumn frosts cut off the last blooms of 

 Liliums auratum, speciosum, and tigrinum. 

 Under glass flowers of some kinds may now 

 be had all the year round. This is a com- 

 paratively recent innovation, for the mag- 

 nificent examples of L. auratum, L. longi- 

 florum, and L. speciosum that one fre- 

 quently sees in autumn and winter are 

 ol)t ;iined by retarding the bulbs in re- 

 frigerators until their normal season of 

 growth is past. 



Many Lilies will succeed in the open 

 border, among ordinary herbaceous plants, 

 while others thrive best under the protec- 

 tion of neighbouring shrubs. By associ- 

 ating Lilies with beds of Rhododendrons, 

 where these last are not too large or too 

 thickly planted, a charming effect is pro- 

 duced, and owing to the great variety 

 among Lilies a number of delightful com- 

 binations may be carried out. With the 

 present day demand for long-stalked flowers 

 to be used for decorative purposes in a cut 

 state Lilies have much to commend them, 

 and some of the bolder kinds are seen at their 

 very best when used in large vases and for 

 similar purposes. The rather heavy frag- 

 rance of some of them militates against their 

 use in confined places. 



A List of the Principal Lilies, with 

 their native country, approximate height, 

 and season of blooming, is appended. The 

 reader is thus able, at a glance, to ascer- 

 tain which of the kinds are likely to suit 

 his purpose. 



