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THE EASTEE LILY IX XORTHERN CLIMATES. 21 



formation of new roots, which ap[)ear in early September, has been 

 the guide, and digging has been done wlien this occurs. This is 

 probably to be looked upon as a reaction to more favorable temper- 

 atures for growth ratiier than an indication of maturity, but. never- 

 theless, stocks dug in early Se[)teniber, as the summer tempera- 

 tures abate, have behaved perfectly under forcing and field condi- 

 tions the next season. When dug at this season though, the bulbs 

 must be looked upon as not fully mature and as comparable to much 

 of the imported' stock from Japan, which also is dug while in full 

 vegetative vigor. 



Digging has been done from September 10 to October 30. The 

 performance of the bulbs dug during this period is about the same, 

 so far as has been observed, but no careful comparative tests have 

 been made. 



When the bulbs are dug late there is commonly a small per- 

 centage of the stocks in which growth has started from the next 

 season's crown. This growth is more likely to take place in the 

 propagation than in the old bulbs. There is little doubt that there is 

 in this characteristic a basis for selection, to which attention is now 

 being given. 



To sum up this matter, it can be said that the bulbs can be dug 

 from September 10 to October 15 or 20 and that the late digging 

 probably gives the best-matured bulbs, although those dug earlier 

 apparently develop satisfactorily. 



METHODS OF PROPAGATION. 



Any plant to become widely useful must be able to make rapid in- 

 crease. Lilies in general have been considered the aristocrats of the 

 flower kingdom because of their l)eauty and the difficulties in pro- 

 ducing them, but the Easter lily can be grown from seed so as to 

 blossom in less than a year and can be produced vegetatively in one 

 season. There are many methods of increasing the stock. 



SEED. 



Propagation by seed has been discussed in previous pages, and the 

 method of handling has been fully described. Seed propagation 

 gives clean stock and is a quick way of getting blossoming plants. It 

 is also exceedingly desirable for various other reasons. It furnishes 

 a quick and easy way to build uj) stocks from a few plants. It en- 

 ables the small grower or the florist to produce his own forcing stocks 

 and to get blossoms continuously from seven months af^'or planting 

 the seed up to and including the second Easter following (he seeding. 

 The method of propagation by seed is also very economic 'A of time 

 and eft'ort, since the stocks may be carried out of doors for six months 

 on a space practically equal to the size of the greenhouse required to 



