LILIES AS CUT FLOWERS 45 



dark-leaved green Aucuba, or Acanthus latif alius pre- 

 pared by a bath of some hours in a tank or tub. 



L. speciosum and its varieties admit of much more 

 variety in the choice of foHage. If there are strong 

 growing examples of Magnolia conspicua, some of 

 their summer shoots of handsome pale leaves, pro- 

 bably two feet long, can well be spared ; if the tree 

 is against a wall a good quantity will be available. 

 It is well worth keeping in the reserve garden a 

 patch of Maize and a little of the variegated kind, 

 on purpose for cutting to go with Lilies and Gladiolus 

 and other important summer and autumn flowers. 

 If the first shoots of the Maize are cut when they 

 are three feet high, it will push again from the base 

 and give a number of useful shoots of graceful 

 greenery for the autumn. It should be remembered 

 that, like so many of the Lilies, Maize also makes 

 stem roots, so that it should be planted at the bottom 

 of a depression or in a trench, and given a good 

 dressing of compost to fill up to the level when the 

 stem roots begin to show. 



Leaves of Funkia grandiflora are also delightful 

 with these Lilies ; a good breadth should be grown 

 for cutting, in a half-shaded place well guarded from 

 slugs ; the leaves burn in the sun. Fronds of hardy 

 Ferns, especially Lady Fern, are also good, but they 

 should be prepared by a bath of some hours. 



The tender pink and rosy colouring of L. speciosum 

 are also beautiful with grey foliage. Of this the 

 grandest will be leaves of Globe Artichoke or Cardoon. 

 A reserve of these in full sunlight should also be 



