The Canadian Horticulturist. 57 



LILIUM LONGIFLORUM HARRISII. 



I ILIUM auratum has had a great run, and is still very popular ; but for 

 f» pot-culture it seems as if L. Harrisii will be even more sought after, as 

 by potting and starting the bulbs at different periods, plants of it may 

 be liad in bloom at Christmas, and from that time onwards till quite late 

 in the spring. What has assisted to bring this lily so much into favour 

 is its adaptability for church decoration, for which purpose it is now much 

 sought after, and for which it is well suited on account of the purity and 

 great substance of its flowers. 



Those who would like to have Lilium Harrisii in flower at the date 

 mentioned above should obtain bulbs and pot them at once, consignments 

 having lately arrived from Bermuda ; and home-grown bulbs are ripe and 

 ready for transit ; but for early work I am of opinion that those imported 

 are the better of the two. The soil most suitable for potting the lily is 

 the orthodox mixture of peat and loam, with a dash of sand, just to 

 keep the mass open. • The way in which these plants look best, and 

 are the most useful for furnishing purposes, is to put one bulb in a pot, 

 and as the roots require but little space, fine specimens may be grown in 

 48's, or at any rate in 6-inch pots. In potting, the bulbs should be nearly 

 buried, and the soil made quite firm, when, if the soil is fairly moist on 

 being used, no water will be required till the plants have made a start. 

 To encourage this, it is a good plan to stand them in a close frame, or 

 under the stage of a green-house, and cover them with cocoa-nut fibre or 

 leaf-mould, which will conserve both moisture and warmth, and thereby 

 induce speedy root action, and after this takes place the pots must 

 be removed to a position where gentle heat can be afforded, but at the 

 same time they should have plenty of light to keep them from drawing. — J. S. 



THE OLEANDERS. 



THE oleander, Nerium splendens, is a handsome evergreen, and is often 

 found in the greenhouse of the amateur, and also in the window garden 

 of those who have no greenhouse. It is one of those plants which I 

 think are general favorites with those for whom this column is written. It 

 will do well in a mixture of fibrous loam, leaf-mould and sand. It is a thirsty 

 subject, and when in full growth, providing the drainage is good, can 

 scarcely have too much water. It is easily propagated by cutting off the 

 ends of the shoots, or what, perhaps, is better, by short slips pulled oft 

 with a heel. It is a very interesting occupation to root these in bottles 

 of water. Get a few two-ounce medicine bottles, and fill with soft water, 

 and insert the cuttings about two inches, and stand in the window ; in a 

 short time they will be seen to emit roots, and they may be then potted 

 into small pots, and placed in the window again. When the cuttings or 



