LILY. 211 



a highly recommended variety, and will, to his surprise, 

 find it will answer the description given, at least, to a 

 dozen other varieties of the same species ; for that reason 

 we have omitted descriptions of very many desirable 

 named sorts. 



L. excelsum (testaceum) (Isabellinum). This is 

 a superb Lily, with a mixed history and a variety of 

 names. It has been generally supposed to be a hybrid be- 

 tween L. candidum and L. chalcedonicum. There is but 

 little evidence to support the theory, and it is said to 

 have first been seen in a bed of seedlings in Erfurt in 

 1846. Dr. Wallace says of it : "It has been thought not 

 to have a Japanese origin, because no bulbs of it have 

 ever been traced as coming over from the Islands of the 

 Western Sea, so productive of new and graceful forms; 

 but we have seen, more than once, in Japanese drawings 

 executed for us years ago by some of the best artists in 

 Yeddo [Tokio], of all the Lilies of Japan, forms rep- 

 resented bearing a very strong resemblance to Excelsum. 

 It is true that among these Lilies there are some most 

 wonderful forms and gorgeous pieces of coloring, such 

 as would lead many to disbelieve in the veracity of 

 the artist; but, on the other hand, we can point to 

 other Lily forms which we know well, depicted therein 

 with fair accuracy, while the birds and insects portrayed 

 in some numbers, we recognize to have been truthfully 

 delineated. Our own conclusion is that, as yet, we have 

 scarcely touched the rich treasure of wonderful Lilies 

 which Japan will one day send to us." Whatever may 

 have been the origin of Excelsum, how 3 or where, or 

 when it was born, makes but little difference, and does 

 not alter the fact that in grace, form, color and fra- 

 grance it has but few equals, and no superior in this 

 noble family of plants. It is, moreover, of easy culture, 

 succeeding best in a loamy soil and in a partially shaded 

 situation. It has often been asserted that this Lily had 



