BULBS AND TUBEROUS-BOOTED PLANTS. 



importance ; to many they seem vital points. Our opin* 

 ion, based upon the experience of many years, is, that 

 the condition of the soil is of far greater importance than 

 its character, and it is upon the former that success 

 largely depends. We have grown Lilies in every variety 

 of soil, from the lightest sand to the heaviest clay, and 

 have met both success and failure in all their various char- 

 acters. Our preference is for a light loam, because in 

 it propagation is more rapid, and, in all cases, perfect 

 flowers are results of perfect development of the plant; 

 should we not have such a soil, we plant in whatever we 

 have, knowing full well that the soil that will yield an 

 abundant crop of garden vegetables, or field crops, will 

 also produce Lilies and other flowers in profusion. It is 

 a great mistake to think that each and every plant must 

 have a soil with certain specific characters in which to 

 grow, in order to attain perfect development. It is :rue 

 that any given plant will do better in a soil congenial to 

 it, one similar to that of its native habitat, but it is 

 equally true that it will do well in a variety of soils 

 where other conditions are favorable. Plants do not live 

 on soil alone ; they live in the soil, it is their home. 

 The soil contains certain elementary substances that con- 

 tribute to the growth of plants; the atmosphere con- 

 tains an equal number; the two acting in harmony pro- 

 duce the plant. These conditions, in any given locality, 

 always exist ; consequently, whether you have a clayey 

 or a sandy soil, you will have in the atmosphere condi- 

 tions favorable to it, so, in either case, the results will 

 be the same. In the one case you will be obliged to use 

 more labor, in the other more manure, to accomplish the 

 same purpose. 



But can all the species be successfully grown in the 

 same soil ? We answer, yes, as nearly as those of any 

 other genus of plants with which we are acquainted. 

 Make a heavy soil rich, and provide good drainage, 



