162 GARDENS PAST AND PRESENT 



of the golden lily, so overpowering in conserva- 

 tories or rooms, adds to its charms as an open-air 

 plant. L. speciosum, as well as L. longiflorum, 

 is more often seen in pots than planted out of 

 doors, but they are worthy of being tried in all 

 ways and in some localities succeed extremely well 

 in this way. 



As long as lilies appear to be thriving, they 

 had better be left undisturbed with nothing further 

 than an annual mulching of what Sussex cottagers 

 call good " mending." If it be necessary at any 

 time to remove them, it must be done after flower- 

 ing is over and leaves and stems are sere and 

 yellow, but not absolutely dead and dry a little 

 too soon is better than too late and replanting 

 should be immediate. Root action in lilies has 

 scarcely any cessation. As soon as the year's 

 functions are accomplished, the work of the next 

 season begins, and any interference after new 

 growth has started is fraught with mischief. This 

 is doubtless one reason why newly imported bulbs 

 do not always succeed well the first year after 

 planting. Fading stems must never be cut away 

 as long as they show any sign of vigour. 



Attention has lately been called to the import- 

 ance of depending more upon home culture of lilies 

 than has hitherto been done. The Japanese do 

 not cultivate them for export. They get their sup- 

 plies from wild bulbs growing in countless thou- 

 sands in their native haunts. Thus, like the world's 

 timber supply, which has been so recklessly drawn 

 upon, the end must come, and that at no very 

 far-off time, unless such ravages are repaired, in 



