CAiVA DIAN UORTICUL TCJUS T. 



Go 



inches apart, and six inches apart in the 

 rows, planting the roots straight down 

 and not spread out, for in the course 

 of a few years the plants throw out 

 so many suckers that the rows will 

 have met, thus making the bed one 

 complete mass of Lilies of the Vall(;y. 

 Many people will say that the beds in 

 such a state will Hower better. Well, 

 yes, there will be tlower spikes, but to 

 have good largo spikes of Howers, I 

 would advise thinning out the small 

 plants, leaving the larger ones, thus 

 giving tliem the advantage of develop- 

 ing their Vjloom ; in fact, cultivating 



Lily OK the Valley (Convallaria Ma.iali«). 



them as nearly as possible as you would 

 a vegetable crop, and not allowing them 

 to be the tangled mass of plants so 

 generally seen. In growing the Lily 

 of the Valley for indoors, instructions 

 should be observed similar to those 

 given in the January number of the 

 Horticulturist, with the exception 

 that those parties having conserva- 



tories, would do well to give tltem bot- 

 tom heat at first ; then gradually cool- 

 ing ofj; to place them in the bright- 

 est aspect the conservatory affords. If 

 this is followed they may bloom for 

 Christmas, taking only about six weeks 

 to Hower. If tlicy an^ to be grown 

 for indoors pick out the strongest 

 plants, if separate, planting about six in 

 a quart pot ; if in a clump, dig up 

 about a dozen, thus allowing for the 

 smaller and weaker plants which are 

 unable to bloom. Liberal applications 

 of a li({uid fertilizer are essential to 

 pioduce a healthy bloom. 



Double Lily of the Valley is treated 

 similarly to the single flowering with 

 the exception that they do not propa- 

 gate as (juickly, and are not at hII suited 

 for forcing. The flowers are distinctly 

 double and will continue .so, if properly 

 cared for and not allowed to become 

 matted. Convallaria Majalis foliis va- 

 riegatiSjOr with variegattdfoliage,is a no- 

 velty, and much sought after in Europe. 

 The floweis are single with white 

 veined leaves, and are treated similarly 

 to the double Lily of the Valley. They 

 are very pretty whether in flower or 

 not, as its foliage is very striking. 



Pink Lily of the Valley is spoken of 

 by some gardeners, but it rarely proves 

 true to color, gejierally flowering the 

 ordinary fragrant white. 



I could mention several other varie- 

 ties, but in my experience they have 

 never proved successful, and I would 

 advise the amateur to wait for some 

 practical experience that may be given 

 at a later period ; as I find nothing dis- 

 couiages a person more than to plant 

 something that will not j)roduce flow- 

 ers corresponding with descriptions 

 given. The double and single types 

 have been of long standing and will 

 repay the amateur's care, if planted 

 under favorable circumstances. 



