180 BULBS AND TUBEROUS-HOOTED PLANTS. 



the grower liberally for all the care and attention given. 

 For a vigorous growth of plant and a perfect devel- 

 opment of the flower a few other precautions are neces- 

 sary, although fair success may be obtained without 

 them. With the Lily, as with every other plant, the 

 better the treatment the better will be the result ; and 

 nowhere is neglect more apparent than in the garden, as 

 there we want, at all times, a display that can only be 

 had by persistent effort and constant care. The Lily 

 occupies a prominent position, and can be had in bloom 

 for nearly four months in the season ; it is, therefore, 

 important that it should not suffer from neglect of any 

 kind. It is important, too, that we should have the 

 very best results obtainable. A plant with from thirty 

 to forty perfectly developed flowers is an object of pride 

 to its owner, when compared, as is often the case, with 

 one of the same variety with not more than one-fifth the 

 number, and these of poorly grown flowers. 



Lilies of all kinds dislike extremes ; they suffer from 

 too much water, and are quite as impatient of heat as of 

 extreme cold. We have shown how they can be pro- 

 tected against moisture ; how to protect againt heat is 

 the next consideration. To protect against heat at the 

 root, which is often a serious injury to the plant, the 

 surface of the bed should be carefully mulched during 

 summer, in order to keep the ground cool and moist. 

 This is not only necessary for the full development of 

 the flower, but also for the growth of the bulb, the 

 plant's storehouse of food, by the aid of which it com- 

 mences operations the coming season, both as to the 

 development of seed and the increase of bulbs, for the 

 extension and perpetuation of the plant. For this pur- 

 pose any sightly mulch is suitable; fresh cut grass 

 from the lawn answers a good purpose, as do leaves, or 

 litter of any kind. We have seen Lilies, heavily mulched 

 with leaves, grown in the shrubbery border, that, for 



