138 BULBS AND THEIR CULTIVATION. 



Some Lilies have two sets of roots, basal and stem. These 

 are auratum, Hansoni, Henryi, Krameri, longiflorum, 

 Harrisii, speciosum, and tigrinum. In potting these, place 

 about two inches of compost in the bottom of the pot, 

 place the bulbs thereon, and then just cover with com- 

 post, leaving the remaining space for a top-dressing when 

 the shoots are six inches high. In the case of the other 

 kinds having basal roots, only fill the pot half full with 

 compost, arrange the bulbs thereon, and fill up with com- 

 post. Lily bulbs require firm potting. It is a good plan 

 to place a layer of silver sand under each bulb, and to 

 slightly surround each with similar material. After pot- 

 ting plunge the pots to their rims in ashes or fibre in a 

 cold frame, and give no water till growth begins. When 

 the shoots of the stem-rooting kinds are six inches high 

 prepare a compost of equal parts peat, loam, leaf -mould, 

 decayed manure, and silver sand, and fill up the space in 

 the pots with this, pressing it down firmly. In the spring 

 let them have plenty of air by day, and see they are well 

 supplied with water. Kinds like Harrisii can be trans- 

 ferred early to the greenhouse, but the others will do 

 better fully exposed to the air after April, taking them 

 into the greenhouse when flower buds begin to form. At 

 this stage liquid manure may be given once or twice a 

 week. After flowering stand the plants outdoors, and 

 when the foliage dies remove to a cold frame; repot in 

 November, and treat as before. If any of the lilies are 

 required to flower a little earlier they may be placed in 

 the cool or warm house to hasten their period of flowering. 



Lycoris A genus formerly included with the Amaryl- 

 lis, and requiring similar cultural details. The species are 

 L. aurea, yellow (August), 1ft.; radiata, scarlet (June), 

 18in. ; and squamigera, rosy-lilac (August). The last- 

 named bears fragrant flowers. 



Merendera. Bulbous-rooted plants allied to the 



