CHAPTER XVI 



DEEP OR SHALLOW PLANTING 



There are two matters connected with Lily growing 

 whose importance is often overlooked, and to the 

 neglect of which many failures may probably be 

 attributed ; one is the right depth of planting, and 

 the other is neglect in giving due protection from 

 spring frost. 



As a rough rule a Lily is planted at a depth repre- 

 sented by three times that of the bulb, except in 

 the case of L. giganteum, which is planted barely 

 underground. But Lilies have two ways of throwing 

 out roots. Some of them, including candidum and 

 all the Martagons, root only at the base of the bulb. 

 But in a great number the bulb makes its first growth 

 by the help of the roots from its base, known as 

 basal roots ; then as soon as the stem begins to rise, 

 it throws out a fresh set from the stem itself, above 

 the point where it comes out of the bulb. These 

 are the roots that feed the later growth of the stem 

 and flowers. It follows that if one of these Lilies 

 is planted only just underground, the stem-roots 

 will push out above ground, and, finding no nourish- 

 ment, the growth of the plant will be checked. But 



if these stem-roots are well underground, and their 



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