IN CALIFORNIA 115 



and raking until the surface is well pulverized. 

 Such work will repay for time and trouble in blos- 

 soms of superior size and color. Plant in a sunny 

 position, so that the top of the bulb just shows 

 through the soil. When growth begins irrigate 

 heavily and frequently and keep the soil moist at 

 all times until the flowers have been cut or have 

 died. When the buds appear the color of the flowers 

 may be maintained in richest hues by a slight shad- 

 ing from the sun. Cheesecloth or even thin burlap, 

 if not too close to the flowers, will insure sufficient 

 protection and brilliant colors. In California the 

 better practice is to leave the bulbs three years 

 undisturbed, after which they may be divided and 

 replanted, giving one an ever-increasing stock of 

 the most showy garden flowers grown. 



LILIES 



Among flowering bulbs the lily has no rival, and 

 it is a question if its beauty is surpassed by any 

 family of flowers. A majority of our best garden 

 sorts come from western Asia, China and Burma, 

 while Japan and other islands furnish a great many. 

 There are about 2000 species known and about one- 

 half of them have been in cultivation. All seem to 

 be natives of the north temperate zone. South Af- 

 rica, which might aptly be called "the land of bulbs," 

 contains no members of the genus lilium. 



Lilies always look best when massed or planted 

 in clumps and are quite in their natural position 

 if planted along a shrub border with a background 

 of other vegetation. Plant in a deeply-worked soil, 

 and if this is heavy it would be better to lighten it 

 with sand and well-rotted manure. While lilies need 

 plenty of water the drainage should be good. The 

 bulbs should be five inches below the ground line. 

 Avoid fresh manures. 



